Date

10-16-2024

Department

School of Behavioral Sciences

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (PhD)

Chair

Jerry Green

Keywords

Depression, Anxiety, International Adoptee, Domestic Adoptee, Adoption, Erikson's Stages of Development

Disciplines

Psychology

Abstract

There is a gap in research on if there is a difference in mental health in those internationally and domestically adopted into the United States. The purpose of this quantitative study is to evaluate if there is a difference in depression and anxiety levels in those adopted domestically versus those adopted internationally and to determine if age at adoption for those internationally adopted is associated with levels of anxiety and depression. The three research questions are is there a difference in anxiety and depression levels in those internationally versus domestically adopted, is there a difference in age at adoption between children adopted internationally versus domestically, and is there a correlation between age at adoption and levels of anxiety and depression in international adoptees? Tests were conducted through SPSS with data collected from a survey using Google Forms. Items on the survey included questions from the PHQ-9, GAD-7, and the participant’s adoption. The 140 participants were 18 years or older, living and grew up in the United States, adopted internationally or domestically, had a closed adoption, do not know or have a relationship with their biological parent(s), and know they were adopted before seven. The results showed that domestic adoptees have higher depression and anxiety levels than international adoptees, international adoptees have an older age at adoption compared to domestic adoptees, and there is no correlation between age at adoption and anxiety and depression levels in international adoptees. This study highlights the need for further research on domestic and international adoptees.

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