Racial–Ethnic Socialization and Transracial Adoptee Outcomes: A Systematic Research Synthesis

Transracial adoptees face unique challenges when it comes to being socialized with their race and culture. Ethnic identity and parent racial–ethnic socialization are two important variables that have been studied in the transracial adoption literature. Additionally, transracial adoptee outcomes of racial–ethnic socialization have been analyzed in multiple studies. However, few reviews have focused on synthesizing empirical studies that include the variables of both racial–ethnic socialization and transracial adoptee outcomes together. Therefore, the purpose of this systematic research synthesis was to examine studies with variables of parent practices of racial–ethnic socialization and transracial adoptee outcomes, and transracial adoptee experiences of racial–ethnic socialization and adoptee outcomes. Thirteen studies were included in the synthesis, and collective findings suggest that racial–ethnic socialization is associated with healthy adoptee outcomes in multiple studies. Implications and limitations about the need for transracially adoptive parents to be educated about racial–ethnic socialization, and resources that adoptive agencies can provide are discussed.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

1. Department of Family and Child Sciences, The Florida State University, College of Human Sciences, 225 Sandels Building, Tallahassee, FL, 32306-1491, USA Jordan E. Montgomery
2. Human Development and Psychological Counseling, Appalachian State University, Reich College of Education, 151 College Street, Boone, NC, 28608, USA Nickolas A. Jordan

1. Jordan E. Montgomery