New Study Finds Millions of U.S. Women Have Gaps in Knowledge About Adoption
Glendale, Ariz., June 9, 2022 — U.S. women of childbearing age (15 to 44 years of age)—about 65 million—possess notable gaps in their understanding of the adoption process and its benefits, according to a new study conducted by Dr. George Barna and the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University and commissioned by the Opt Institute.
Survey respondents were asked to indicate whether each of five statements describing adoption was true or false.
The statements were:
- Being able to participate in an “open” adoption allows the birth parents to remain part of the child’s life in a specified capacity.
- Birth parents can receive private counseling and other emotional support before, during, and after the adoption.
- The birth mother’s pregnancy is completely paid for by the adopting parents.
- The birth parents may choose the family that adopts the child.
- The birth mother may continue her education or job throughout the pregnancy and adoption proceedings, without losing any income or benefits.
All five statements are true—though just more than half (53%) of all women of childbearing age identified four or all five as such. Fifteen percent (15%) believe that none or just one of the statements are true. The other one-third of women of childbearing age believe that only two or three of the statements are correct.
Overall, the research revealed, only 15% of women of childbearing age said that they would be likely to place a conceived child for adoption, whether their pregnancy was intentional or unintentional.
Teen girls are substantially more likely than other women to be reluctant to consider adoption because of the emotional hardship of surrendering the child (50%), the belief that there is no guarantee the child would be adequately loved and cared for (43%) and because of adoption’s “bad reputation” (21%). This group was the most uninformed that a birth mother’s pregnancy is completely paid for by the adopting parents (64%). For this group, 25% said adoption was much more appealing when equipped with the knowledge about adoption.
The research suggests that there has been little exploration of adoption as an option by most women of childbearing age, and that few sources of influence, such as family, medical professionals or friends have brought the possibility of adoption to the attention of women.
John Knox, the founder of the Opt Institute, says:
“This important research helps to understand why women rarely choose adoption. Many don’t know much about contemporary adoption practices and have serious misunderstandings about it. Adoption practices have improved considerably over the last few decades, but many women are unaware of those changes and do not consider adoption as a realistic option for their pregnancy.”
According to the study, the women who are best-informed regarding adoption are those in their 40s (70% knew four or five were true) and married women (63%). The segments of women who are least well-informed about adoption are those who had been adopted as an infant (29%), Asians (28%) and teen girls (23%).
Perhaps the most revealing statistic to emerge from the research is that 45% of women currently of childbearing age said they experienced physical, sexual, or emotional abuse while growing up—a number that has potentially influenced the lack of interest many young women today express in having children, according to the report.
Of those who would consider adoption, four common motivations surfaced, including the mother’s financial situation (i.e., recognizing they were financially incapable of raising the child, mentioned by 33%); the mother’s desire to do what is in the best interests of the child (listed by 32%); a desire to help a family seeking to adopt a child (29%); and the mother recognizing her personal lack of preparation or maturity to raise a child (23%).
“For women who, for whatever reason, will not be able to raise a child, adoption is a wonderful alternative, as attested by millions of adults who were placed by mothers for adoption as children,” Knox says. “The positive experiences of those adopted children and the incredible gifts they are to society are a testimony, as to why adoption should be a respected and meaningful option for women to consider. We can do better to provide women with accurate, complete, and non-coercive information about the loving choice of adoption, and this study is significant in showing why this is critical.”
Veteran researcher George Barna offers his key insights from the research in the report “New Research Finds Millions of Women Unaware of Adoption Process and Benefits,” here.