Posted on July 23: Canadians support adult adoptees getting confidential information about birth parents, study finds

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BY Shelly Easton

July 23, 2002

[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/mialla.JPG” caption=”Charlene Miall”]The first in-depth study of Canadian attitudes towards adoption shows that Canadians are strongly in favour of the unconditional release of confidential identifying information to adult adoptees about their birth parents. A majority also support some form of open adoption that allows for contact between birth parents and adoptive parents after adoption takes place.

The study, conducted by McMaster University researcher Charlene Miall and Karen March of Carleton University, found that three-quarters of Canadians surveyed felt that birth parents and adoptive parents should not be able to prevent adult adoptees learning their original identities. At present, most adoption reunion registries allow birth parents to veto requests for information by adult adoptees. However, only 45 per cent of Canadians approved of birth parents learning the identities of their adopted adult children without their permission.

“Adoption as an institution is in the process of change and this survey provides a unique snapshot of what Canadians think about these changes,” said Miall, an associate professor of sociology. “Canadians are very supportive of adoption as a family form while recognizing that confidentiality requirements may place a unique burden on adults seeking to learn about their genetic and medical histories.”

Other findings from the survey:

  • an overwhelming majority of Canadians approve of international adoptions

  • Canadians are in favour of birth reunions with 46 per cent strongly approving and 45 per cent somewhat approving

  • Canadians also think that confidential adoption, where there is no contact between birth parents and adoptive parents, should continue to be available if both parties want it

  • Canadians are almost evenly split on whether lesbian and gay couples should be able to adopt children.

The Institute for Social Research at York University collected the data from a Canada-wide telephone survey between May and July 2000. In addition, 82 comprehensive interviews were conducted to examine what factors were at work when respondents gave the answers they did. That analysis is now complete and the results of both the survey and interviews are in the publication stage. The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada funded this research.

For complete information on the survey and the data, see http://socserv2.mcmaster.ca/sociology/Miall-News.pdf and http://www.carleton.ca/socanth/Faculty/KarenMarch.htm.