Transracially Adoptive Parents’ Colorblindness and Discrimination Recognition: Adoption Stigma as Moderator

Abstract

Objectives: In a sample of transracially adoptive parents, this study examined the moderating role of adoption stigma in the relationship between their colorblind attitudes and their perceptions of different forms of discrimination. Specifically, we hypothesized that parents’ colorblind attitudes would be negatively related to their perceptions of their adopted children’s experiences with racism and their views toward racial microaggressions and institutional racism. We also hypothesized that perceived adoption stigma would moderate these relationships, such that the inverse association between colorblindness and the 3 outcome variables would be weakened by adoption stigma. Method: A total of 172 White parents (Mage = 48.41) with adopted children of color participated in the study by completing questionnaires about their experiences as transracially adoptive parents. Women comprised 74% of participants. Results: Results indicated that the relationship between participants’ colorblind attitudes and their reports of adoptees’ racist experiences was enhanced at nearly all levels perceived adoption stigma. In addition, results revealed that at high levels of perceived adoption stigma (75th and 90th percentiles), the magnitude of the relationships between colorblind attitudes with microaggressions and institutional discrimination was significantly reduced and became nonsignificant for parents with younger adoptees but not older adoptees. Conclusions: Findings point to the potential benefits of helping transracially adoptive parents explore different dimensions of their own social-cultural identity as a way to enhance their ability to recognize different forms of discrimination that their adopted children may face.