Knowledge of Racial Identity Development on White Parents' Intentions to Promote Black Adoptees’ Racial Identity

• In Event: Poster Session 04
  In Poster Session: PS 04 Topic - Race, Ethnicity, Culture, Context

Abstract

The prevalence of transracial adoptions of Black children by White parents in the United States is rapidly increasing, and currently the adoption of Black children by White parents is the most frequent transracial adoptee-parent combination (Lee, 2008; Marr, 2017). With the increase of transracial adoptions in the U.S., questions arise about White transracial adoptive parents’ capability to promote the racial-ethnic identity of their adopted Black child(ren), specifically with regard to their knowledgeable about how to promote the healthy racial-ethnic identity (REI) of racially diverse youth. Given that a healthy REI, which is developed through the process of racial-ethnic socialization (RES), has been found to buffer the detrimental effects of racism and discrimination (Harris-Britt et al., 2007; Hughes et al., 2006; Smith et al., 2003), and is associated with a plethora of psychosocial benefits, including healthy psychological functioning (Yip et al., 2006) and more positive self-esteem (Yip et al., 2006) it is important to understand the factors that promote White transracial adoptive parents’ intentions to promote the REI of their adopted Black children by engaging in RES.

Currently, there is no research examining if White transracial adoptive parents’ knowledge of how REI develops impacts their intentions to promote their adopted Black children’s REI. The current study examines this question in the context of the theory of planned behavior (TPB), which describes one’s intentions and subsequent behavior as being influenced by his or her attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control (Ajzen et al., 2011). Caucasian parents (both mothers and fathers) who have adopted, or are in the process of adopting, Black or African American child(ren) (n = 356) completed measures examining parents’ factual knowledge of normative REI development and parents’ attitudes, perceived subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and intentions related to engaging in the RES process.

Data for this study are currently being analyzed using bivariate correlations and hierarchical multiple regression analyses and will be completed before the time of the SRCD meeting. Results are expected to reveal that White transracial adoptive parents’ knowledge of REI development will be positively correlated with their intentions to engage in the RES of their Black child(ren). It is also expected that White transracial adoptive parents’ attitudes toward, perceived subjunctive norms for, and perceived behavioral control of engaging in RES will be positively correlated with their behavioral intentions to engage in the RES of their Black child(ren), and will predict their intentions to engage in the RES of their adopted Black child(ren) above and beyond their knowledge about REI development. Finally, it is expected that White transracial adoptive parents’ knowledge of REI development will moderate the relationships between the components of TPB and parents’ intentions to promote the RES of their adopted Black child(ren) (see Figure 1). This research meaningfully contributes to the literature on the TPB as well as transracial adoptive families, and has the potential to address concerns about the role of White transracial adoptive parents’ abilities to promote the healthy REI development of Black adoptees.

Authors

• Sharde B. Pettis, Xavier University
  Presenting Author

• Tammy L. Sonnentag, Xavier University
  Non-Presenting Author