Susan M. Henney

Openness in adoption and the impact on birth mother plans for search and reunion

This article addresses the attitudes of 125 birth mothers about their roles in their birth childrens lives, 12 to 20 years postplacement. As part of a longitudinal study on adoption openness, decision-making is explored for birth mothers who maintained direct contact with the adoptive family, for those with ongoing mediated contact, mediated contact that had stopped, and those without contact. Analyses also were conducted to determine if birth mother planned searches were related to their age, marital status, and parenting status. Significant differences were found for type of openness. To contextualize the findings, birth mother reasons for making decisions about searching were analyzed. Recommendations are provided for adopted adults, birth parents considering a reunion, and adoption agency staff.

Birth Mothers’ Perspectives on Their Relationship With the Birth Father 12 to 20 Years After Adoption

This study investigates birth mothers’ perspectives on their relationships with birth fathers after adoption placement. A total of 125 birth mothers were interviewed 12 to 20 years postplacement about the nature of their relationship with the birth father and their satisfaction with their contact with the birth father both at the time of placement and currently. These interviews were part of a larger longitudinal study of birthparents, adoptive parents, adopted persons, and adoption agency personnel. Recalling the time of the adoption placement, birth mothers reported many negative feelings about the birth father. However, by 12 to 20 years after the adoption, birth mothers were moving toward a more neutral emotional stance regarding the birth father. Most of the birth mothers do not have current contact with the birth father, and of those who do, most characterize their relationship as friendship.

The Center for Social Work Research at the University of Texas at Austin: A Profile

The Center for Social Work Research (CSWR) in the School of Social Work at the University of Texas at Austin demonstrates how interdisciplinary research collaborations between faculty, social work practitioners, and administrators can enhance social work practice and policy development. With limited infrastructure funding since 1974, CSWR has operated with grant monies renewed through contracts with state agencies and foundations seeking program evaluation, data collection, and/or data analyses. Research has focused on topics such as at-risk youth, teenage pregnancy, open adoptions, foster care, child abuse, child care services, welfare reform, and many others. CSWR is now utilizing federal funding opportunities to expand its functions and obtain infrastructure funds necessary for supporting investigator-initiated research.

The Relationship Between Personality and Parental Confidence in Mothers of School-Aged Children

This study explores the relationship between personality and parental confidence among mothers of school-aged children. The relationships between personality and parenting competence and also between parental confidence and parenting competence are established in the literature, but the relationship between personality and parental confidence is little explored. One hundred twenty-one mothers of school-aged children were surveyed regarding their demographics and parenting confidence, and they also completed the 16PF personality measure. Hierarchical regression analysis found that higher Dominance, Self-Control, and Independence predicted higher maternal confidence, whereas higher Apprehension and Anxiety predicted lower maternal confidence. Black mothers had higher levels of parental confidence overall than mothers of other ethnicities. These results are discussed in the context of understanding parenting behaviors and designing parenting interventions.