Abstract
This study analyses birth mothers’ primary motivations for placing their child for adoption, aiming to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the factors influencing these choices. The researchers examined open-ended survey question responses from 768 birth mothers who placed a child for private domestic adoption. Four key themes emerged: (1) lack of resources and support for parenting; (2) respondents’ desire for an ideal family environment for their child; (3) present life circumstances; and (4) beliefs and pressures related to adoption. Responses also highlighted the complexity and multifaceted nature of birth mothers’ placement decisions, with many offering several factors that contributed to their decision-making. These results can inform future research, impact service delivery and improve public discourse regarding motivations for placement.
Plain language summary
This study examines why birth mothers decide to place their children for adoption. The researchers looked at survey responses from 768 birth mothers who placed a child for private domestic adoption and asked what their primary motivation was for choosing an adoptive placement. The researchers identified four key themes: (1) lack of resources and support for parenting; (2) respondents’ desire for an ideal family environment for their child; (3) present life circumstances; and (4) beliefs and pressures related to adoption. Many birth mothers listed multiple reasons for placing their child for adoption, which highlighted the complexity of this decision. These results can inform future research, impact service delivery and improve public discourse regarding motivations for placement.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.