The Unsealing of Adoption Records at Late Age: the Meaning for the Adoptees and Their Adult Children

Adoption is a process whereby children are transferred from the custody of their biological parents to the custody of their adoptive parents. The best interests of the child are the primary consideration motivating the adoption process, which is intended to provide the child with safety, as well as physical and emotional well-being. Adoption has long-lasting consequences on the lives of adoptees. They may face various challenges, from the attempt to understand the meaning of being adopted, to searching for information on their biological families and, sometimes, contacting and meeting them. The process of searching for one’s roots is accompanied by strong emotions and may be overwhelming and difficult. The search experience is not a single event but rather an ongoing process. Following the search, the relationship with the biological family may take many forms and may change over time. Sometimes adoptees conduct the search process according to the customary policies of the adoption agencies in the countries they reside or where they were adopted. Other times, especially in recent years, they choose different ways, such as genetic testing, social networks, or private investigators. In Israel, applying to the adoption services (Child Services in The Ministry of Welfare and Social Affairs) to search for one’s roots is termed “opening an adoption file”.

Most adoptees who choose to search for their roots and open their adoption files do so in young adulthood, but some do so at later ages. Few studies have examined the meaning of adoption, and specifically the root searching process, for adoptees in the second half of life. These studies suggest that adoptees who choose to undergo this process at this time expressed maturity, forgiveness towards the biological mother, positive emotions and better ability to cope with difficulties than younger adoptees. Additionally, these studies emphasized adoptees’ desire to find their biological parents while still alive, and the meaningful role the adoptees’ partners and children may have in the root searching process. Yet, only a few studies examined the meaning of the intimate and parental relationships in the root searching process, and no study examined the involvement of the adoptees’ children.

The current study is based on the Life Course theory, according to which people experience dynamic developmental changes throughout life. Development does not stop when one reaches adulthood but rather continues throughout life and is affected by social-familial factors, as well as the period in which one lives. A key concept in this theory is “Linked Lives”, referring to the mutual dependence and influence between the lives of individuals and others that are significant to them.

The purpose of the current study was to examine the meaning of the root searching process for adoptees in the second half of life, their partners and their adult children, based on the theoretical framework of the Life Course theory.

The research questions were:

1. What motivated adoptees to search for their biological parents in the second half of life?
2. What are the experiences of adoptees who are searching for biological roots in the second half of life?
3. What are the experiences of partners of adoptees who are searching for biological roots in the second half of life?
4. What are the experiences of adult children of adoptees who are searching for biological roots in the second half of life?

Participants were recruited through several intermediary parties: (a) through Child Services); (b) through non-profit organizations and relevant contacts, mainly Mishpachta organization. The study was approved by the ethics committee of Bar Ilan University, and all participants signed a consent form. Inclusion criteria for study participation were: opening the adoption file after age 40, speaking Hebrew, being in a relationship and/or being parents of adult children (over the age of 18). 

Twenty-four adoptees who applied to open their adoption files and search for their roots in the second half of life participated in the study. Additionally, 8 of the adoptees’ partners and 10 adult children (over the age of 18) participated as well.

Half of the participants were males and half were female. Adoptees’ age ranged from 43-67 (M=54.04, SD=7.77). The partners who participated in the study were aged 47-64 (M=55.25, SD=5.77). The children who participated in the study were aged 19-49 (M=30, SD=9.07). Participants lived across Israel, in different types of settlements. Two participants resided abroad.

All adoptees were adopted in domestic adoptions by strangers. The majority (n=22) were adopted before their first birthday. Most participants knew of their adoption at an early stage, but some discovered later on, in the latent years or during emerging adulthood. For 7 adoptees this was the first attempt to search for their roots, while 17 had applied for the information previously but did not continue the process for various reasons. Following the root searching process, 13 had met a member of their biological family while 11 did not. All participants were adopted in a closed adoption process and did not know their biological family during childhood. One participant’s description suggests that it may have been an open adoption though she was not familiar with the term. Some of the adoptees used other means as part of their search process, such as DNA tests, private investigators, and social networks.

The study was conducted using semi-structured in-depth interviews according to the naturalistic paradigm. Each family member was interviewed separately so that they would feel comfortable expressing themselves. Nineteen interviews were conducted online and 21 were conducted face-to-face.

Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was used as the data analysis method. According to this method, interpretation is double – both by the participant and the researcher. Analysis is then conducted in an idiographic, inductive, and integrative manner. First, initial coding is conducted, after which the researcher analyzes the data in several stages and finds recurring patterns in the statements of all interviewees. These are then used to construct the main themes for the study. Additionally, data analysis was based on Eisikovits & Koren’s dyadic analysis method. Accordingly, each interviewee and each study group are addressed individually, and a comparison is made between groups – between adoptees and their children, and between adoptees and their partners.

Five main themes emerged in the study:

• Triggers for root searching in the second half of life. This theme related to the first research question on motivations for root searching at this stage, and included three sub-themes: (a) development of self-identity as a trigger for root searching; (b) life events as triggers for root searching (medical crises, marital crises, events related to birth or death); (c) external events as triggers for root searching. This theme suggests that the decision to search for roots in the second half of life is influenced by life experiences and individual, familial, and social processes.
• Changes to Identity Perception Due to the Root Searching. This theme related to the second research question on the experiences of adoptees in the search process. The theme describes a range of three changes in identity perception following the search process: (a) stability of identity perception; (b) understanding one’s self in light of the past (understanding difficulties as well as positive qualities); (c) change in identity (positive or negative). This theme suggests that, similar to root searching at a young age, root searching in the second half of life is also a powerful experience bringing to question issues of identity and identity change. Yet, it appears that each change is experienced as unique, and is affected by the life phase during which the search occurs.
• Sense of belonging to the biological family following the search process. This theme also related to the research question on the experiences of adoptees in the search process. The theme describes a range of three situations: (a) Lack of sense of belonging to the biological family; (b) the biological family has meaning but there is no sense of belonging; (c) sense of belonging to the biological family. This theme points to the complexities of sense of belonging surrounding adoption in general, and specifically following root searching. The different groups appear to represent different ways of coping. This theme suggests that searching for one’s biological family in the second half of life, when the adoptee has usually formed an identity and familial belonging, is complex.
• Partner involvement in root searching. This theme related to both the second research question on the experiences of adoptees in the search process, and the third research question on partners’ experiences in this process. The theme included three options for partner involvement: (a) the partner is not involved; (b) moderate involvement on behalf of the partner; (c) high involvement on behalf of the partner. These options were described both by the adoptees and their partners who participated in the study. The theme suggests that partners may have a meaningful role in the search process in the second half of life. Moreover, this process may affect the partner and the intimate relationship.
• Adult children’s involvement in root searching. This theme related to both the second research question on the experiences of adoptees in the search process, and the fourth research question on adult children’s experiences in this process. The theme included three options for the involvement of adult children: (a) the children are not involved; (b) moderate involvement on behalf of the children; (c) high involvement on behalf of the children. These options were described both by the adoptees and their adult children who participated in the study. This theme suggests that the involvement of the children in the process is very meaningful for the adoptees, the children and their relationship.

The study illuminates the meaning of the process of root searching in the second half of life, and the meaning that partners and adult children of adoptees have in this process. Moreover, four main axes emerged from the study, providing important context for understanding the experience of adoption and the experience of root searching in the second half of life: the personal identity axis, the family axis – including both partners and children, the environment axis and the time axis and. Based on these axes a new theoretical model is proposed – the IFET – that may assist in understanding the issue of adoption and the experience of root searching in the second half of life. The model includes four geometric shapes: the adoptee’s circle of identity; the family triangle; the environment circle; and the time axis. The model could enhance the theoretical thinking on adoption and the experience of root searching in the second half of life, and create an overarching framework for a deeper understanding of these experiences. Future studies should continue to examine the process of root searching in the second half of life using the proposed model and the findings of the current study.

On a practical level, the findings of the study suggest that it is necessary to provide therapeutic interventions adapted to the needs of adoptees who are searching for their roots in the second half of life, and their families. These should be based on insights gained from the different themes that emerged in this study, and on a wider systemic view as proposed by the IFET model.