Evlat Edinilen Bireylerin Ve Evlat Edinen Ebeveynlerin Evlat Edinme Deneyimlerinin Keşfedilmesi

Abstract

Adoption is a legal and social process based on the best interests of the child, enabling the establishment of a permanent family bond between a child and an adult in the absence of a biological connection. This study was conducted in response to the lack of evidence-based knowledge in the national literature that holistically examines the experiences of both adopted individuals and adoptive parents through the lens of the social work discipline. The aim of the research was to explore how adoption services are experienced by adoptive families and adopted individuals. For this purpose, a qualitative research design was adopted, and purposive sampling was employed. Due to the structure of the study, two distinct participant groups were formed. The first group consisted of 16 adults who applied to the Ankara Provincial Directorate of Family and Social Services to access their personal adoption files upon learning they were adopted. The second group included 8 adoptive parents who completed the adoption process through the same institution. In-depth interviews were conducted with participants between March and June 2024, using a semi structured interview guide. The findings indicate that the way in which individuals learn about their adoption plays a critical role in their psychological adjustment. This discovery process was frequently characterized by intense and overlapping emotions such as shock, disappointment, anger, curiosity, and existential emptiness. The search for biological origins was often accompanied by loyalty conflicts, ambiguous loss, and social stigma. It was observed that the disclosure of the adoption was usually undertaken by mothers, while fathers assumed a more passive role. The bonding and adjustment processes of adoptive parents varied; while some experienced a quick and natural attachment, others underwent a more prolonged and effortful adaptation due to the child’s prior experiences or prevailing societal prejudices. Overprotective attitudes, high levels of anxiety, and social pressures were among the major factors that influenced the establishment of healthy boundaries and autonomy-supportive parenting. Based on these findings, it is recommended that emotional, social, and institutional dynamics accompanying the adoption process be acknowledged, and that approaches grounded in transparency, collaboration, and professional support be adopted.