The Relationship Between Optimism About Race Relations, Black Awareness, and Attitudes Toward Transracial Adoption

Bibliographic Data

ID8096751
AuthorsJudy Fenster (Adelphi University, corresponding author)
Year2004
Volume13
Issue3
Pages45-67
Publication date2004-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Ethnic & Cultural Diversity in Social Work (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1531-3204 • E-ISSN: 1531-3212
PublisherTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1300/j051v13n03_03
OpenAlexW2070847477
LanguageEN
Citations received8
References cited23

Social workers in the United States were queried on their attitudes toward transracial adoption (TRA), defined here as African American children being adopted by White parents. An analysis of 363 questionnaires found that optimism about the future of race relations was the most powerful predictor of TRA attitudes. For both African American and White social workers, more optimism about race relations was associated with positive attitudes toward transracial adoption. Among White respondents, optimism about race relations was also related to lower levels of conservatism and higher levels of altruism; among African American respondents, racial optimism was associated with less emphasis on Black awareness. For African American social workers, a stronger commitment to promulgating Black awareness was also associated with less support for TRA. Implications of the findings for social work practice were discussed

Optimism · Race (biology · Sociology · Gender Studies · Higher Education Research Studies · Mentoring and Academic Development · Psychology · Racial and Ethnic Identity Research · Social Psychology

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