Administered Dean Romanticism Scale and Bachman Self-Esteem Scale to 121 pregnant adolescents (ages 12-21). Found that two variables were significantly related to feelings of romanticism: adoption considerations and whether adolescent planned to have child with the baby's father. Two variables were significantly related to self-esteem: incidence…

Discusses the adoption laws and procedures of Lagos State, Nigeria, and presents a demographic profile of the 236 adoptions that have taken place since the enactment of the current law in 1972. Because of the dearth of information on adoption in Nigeria, it is suggested that research on adoption should be pursued with the utmost vigor. (MDM)

Reviews the postulated benefits and risks of open adoption, that is, contact, and sharing of information, between adoptive and biological families. Discusses empirical evidence supporting and opposing open adoption. Implications for practice include the counseling of adopted children by adoption social workers and the use of caution in practicing…

Reviews six empirical studies of open adoption and presents data from two new studies. Both the review and the new data support optimism about adoptive and biological parents' response to the openness in their relationship. (MDM)

Provides adoption statistics for all 50 states and the District of Columbia, including the total number of adoptions in 1987, 1988, and 1990, and the number of public agency adoptions as a percentage of total adoptions for 1990. Statistics on adoption are inexact because of the variety of data sources and their changing nature. (MDM)

Tested whether there is social consensus about how stepparents should and will parent and whether stepparent roles are perceived as similar to biological and adoptive parent roles. College students (n=240) thought that stepparents were less obligated and less likely than biological and adoptive parents to engage in supportive parental behaviors…

Adoption has significantly added to the landscape of possible family forms. Recent research efforts on adoption (1994-present) are reviewed and implications for family-counselor practice are explored. Attention is given to research on special-needs adoptions, adoptive-family process, birth-family reunions, and community perspectives on adoption.…

Discusses how adoption responds to ancient questions about origins. Maintains that one's identity hinges on actual relationships more than on pedigree and genes. Discusses reasons for informing a child about his or her adoption. Suggests that adoption is a constructive process involving too many worrisome warnings and anxiety-raising advice by the…

Identifies the types of formal and informal supports that are used and desired by families parenting children with special medical, behavioral, or developmental needs. Results indicate that informal, agency-linked resources, such as access to family-resource-support specialists and experienced "master" adoptive parents, appear to be…

Identifies two theoretical frameworks for adoption research: stress and coping literature and life-span developmental psychology. Recognizes that placing adoption within these larger study areas encourages differentiated, conditional questions such as when does adoption have which types of impacts for which types of individuals. (DLH)

Indigenous social networks of Ethiopian farmers participate in seed exchange based on mutual interdependence and trust. A government-imposed extension program must validate the role of local seed systems in developing a national seed industry. (SK)

Reports on Constantine's theory of family models so as to provide a framework for successful adoptions. Describes four family models and how they differ in their emphasis on continuity or change and other factors. Applies models to the issue of matching family characteristics and strengths to older children's needs. (RJM)

Praises Wegar's examination of the debate over sealed birth records and searching for birth parents to explore the meanings of kinship, family, and identity in contemporary culture. Criticizes the work's lack of incorporation of open adoption literature, overlooking of feminist works, and lack of strategies for changing negative attitudes toward…

Presents a content analysis of the depiction of abortion and adoption in 62 marriage and family textbooks. Findings show that books devote more attention to abortion than to adoption and cast abortion as a macro, societal issue while depicting adoption as a micro issue. (Author/MKA)

Discusses the integrated concept of electronic performance support systems (EPSS) as a solution to meet performance needs of knowledge-rich workplaces where information overload is often a problem. Considers the adoption of information technology, task performance time, and support functions, and gives an example of an EPSS for marine shipping…