Abstract

There has been increasing interest in the area of transracial adoption over the past decade, as there has recently been an increase in the number of Caucasian couples parenting nonCaucasian children (Lindsey, 2012). Although much research has been conducted regarding transracial adoption, very few studies have spoken directly with transracial adoptees. The present study addressed this gap in the literature through conducting interviews with eight transracially-adopted individuals. Interviews addressed adoptees’ lived experiences, with a focus on the importance of relationships in the adoptees' lives. Data was analyzed using grounded theory and results demonstrated the crucial importance of relationships in transracial adoptees' lives. Additionally, it was found that a sense of understanding is paramount for transracial adoptees in these relationships. The insights gained from this study regarding the importance of open, understanding relationships can eventually be used by mental health professionals to aid adoptees and multicultural individuals