Since 2005, Dr. Goldberg has been conducting a longitudinal study focused on the transition to adoptive parenthood among same-sex couples and heterosexual couples. Couples were initially interviewed before they adopted, and Dr. Goldberg’s research team has conducted a series of follow-up assessments since: 3 months post-adoption, 1 year post-adoption, 2 years post-adoption, 3 years post-adoption, 5 years post-adoption, 8 years post-adoption, and 12 years post-adoption. The team is currently exploring the transition to young adulthood for the youth in these families. Members of each couple also complete questionnaire surveys at each time point. These interviews and surveys explore a variety of topics, including: adoption agency experiences; the division of labor; balancing work and family; social support; intimate relationship quality; separation and divorce; racial socialization; preparing children for bias; choosing a day care/school; navigating school/teacher relationships; and navigating relationships with children’s birth family members.
Regarding the current follow up: The team is currently conducting survey research and focus groups with the young adults in the study, to understand the transition to emerging adulthood for adopted youth. Some of the questions we are interested in are: In what ways is adoption more or less salient during this developmental stage? (How) do adoption related considerations inform decisions and aspirations related to education, career, and family?
For publications on these topics, see “Publications.” For an article aimed at teachers about how to make early childhood education settings more inclusive of diverse families, which appeared in the publication “Zero to Three,” see: The ABCs of Diversity and Inclusion.
“I want to say again how grateful we are to participate in your ongoing work. We feel that your surveys and interviews helped to center and ground our thoughts about how we were growing our family and each other during our adoption journey. Your work has made us more thoughtful, sensitive, and loving parents.”–TAPP Participant
| Phase | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Description | Pre-adopt | 3 months post-adopt | 1 year post | 2 years post | 3 years post | 5 years post | 8 years post |
| Interviews | X | X | X | X (some) | X (some) | ||
| Questionnaires | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |