with positive effects for not only biological mothers but also the adoptive family.
In another study of the experiences of individuals involved in adoption, Berry (1993) surveyed 1,268 adoptive parents (1,396 adoptions) in California concerning openness (whether adoptees should eventually have access to information concerning their biological parents) as well as about ongoing/postplacement contact with biological parents. The study assessed several demographic characteristics of adoptees in both closed and open adoptions including adoptions of older and abused children. Also, Berry examined open adoption practices, openness among transracial adoptions, and degree of comfort with postplacement contact.
Findings of the study were said to reveal that preplacement sharing of information and postplacement contact were fairly common practices, with contact between adoptive and biological parents being most likely to occur in adoptions of infants and children with no history of mistreatment and in adoptions by relatives. Contrary to expectations, a
...