Birthmothers.info - Research into the effects of adoption separation on mothers.

SECTION "A" INSTRUCTIONS: Below are some questions which will help us to understand the information provided by participants. Please supply the information in the space provided. For "Yes/No" responses, please circle your response.

1. In what year did you give birth?

Year Percent

1965 13.9%

1966 17.7%

1967 16.5%

1968 12.7%

1969 11.4%

1970 13.9%

1971 8.9%

1972 5.1%

2. How old were you when you gave birth? Mean Age: 18.6

3. What is your current relationship status?

Status	Percent
Single	3.8%
Married	63.3%
Divorced	20.3%
Living with someone	8.9%
Separated	1.3%
Widowed	2.5%

4. How many other children do you have? None 26.6% One or more 73.4%

Q#	Question	Yes	No	DK/NA*
5.	Have you raised any other children you have had? (base: All)	69.9%	30.4%
6.	Was the adoption a closed adoption?	92.4	5.1	2.5%
7.	Have you searched for your relinquished child?	84.8	15.2
8.	Have you been reunited with your relinquished child?	67.1	32.9
9.	If yes, are you still in contact with your relinquished child?	88.7	11.3
10.	Have you received psychotherapy because of the relinquishment?	41.8	58.2
11.	If yes, did it help? (base: Received psychotherapy)	66.7	30.3	3.0
12.	How long were you in therapy? (base: Received psychotherapy)	Mean 31 mos
13.	Have you participated in any birthmother support groups?	86.1	12.7	1.3
14.	If yes, did it help? (base: Participated in support group)	91.2	4.4	4.4
15.	How long were you a member? (base: Participated in support group)	Mean: 17 mos

*DK/NA = Don't Know/No Answer

SECTION "B" INSTRUCTIONS: Below is a list of statements made by people after stressful life events. Please respond to the following statements thinking about your entire relinquishment experience. (For the purpose of this survey, the "entire relinquishment experience" includes the time you first learned you were pregnant until the signing of the relinquishment papers.) Please circle the response for each statement indicating how frequently these statements were true for you since the relinquishment.

Q#	Statement	Not at All	Rarely	Some-times	Often	DK/NA
1.	Any reminder brought back feelings about it.	0%	5.1%	21.5%	73.4%	0%
2.	I had trouble staying asleep.	10.1	22.8	34.2	30.4	2.5
3.	Other things kept making me think about it.	5.1	6.3	43.0	44.3	1.3
4.	I felt irritable and angry.	5.1	17.7	36.7	39.2	1.3
5.	I avoided letting myself get upset when I thought about it or was reminded of it.	2.5	20.3	41.8	35.4	0
6.	I thought about it when I didn't mean to.	1.3	6.3	26.6	65.8	0
7.	I felt as if it hadn't happened or wasn't real.	26.6	12.7	31.6	29.1	0
8.	I stayed away from reminders about it.	12.7	19.0	38.0	30.4	0
9.	Pictures about it popped into my mind.	0	10.1	31.6	58.2	0
10.	I was jumpy and easily startled.	21.5	22.8	30.4	25.3	0
11.	I tried not to think about it.	7.6	10.1	38.0	44.3	0
12.	I was aware that I still had a lot of feelings about it, but I didn't deal with them.	7.6	3.8	24.1	64.6	0
13.	My feelings about it were kind of numb.	10.1	11.4	24.1	54.4	0
14.	I found myself acting or feeling like I was back at that time.	11.4	30.4	41.8	16.5	0
15.	I had trouble falling asleep.	16.5	15.2	43.0	22.8	2.5
16.	I had waves of strong feelings about it.	3.8	10.1	30.4	55.7	0
17.	I tried to remove it from my memory.	25.3	12.7	22.8	39.2	0
18.	I had trouble concentrating.	5.1	21.5	54.4	19.0	0
19.	Reminders of it caused me to have physical reactions such as sweating, trouble breathing, nausea, or a pounding heart.	29.1	19.0	32.9	19.0	0
20.	I had dreams about it.	15.2	15.2	36.7	32.9	0
21.	I felt watchful and on-guard.	17.7	13.9	32.9	35.4	0
22.	I tried not to talk about it.	8.9	13.9	26.6	50.6	0

SECTION "C" INSTRUCTIONS: For each statement, please circle the response that best describes your experience.

Q#	Statement	Not at all true	Some-what true	Very true	Extreme-ly true	DK/NA
1.	Relinquishing my child was a great relief.	73.4%	15.2%	2.5%	8.9%	0
2.	I have forgotten details surrounding the birth, such as date of birth, name of hospital, etc.	62.0	17.7	5.1	15.2	0
3.	I feel emotionally "stuck" and unable to move forward.	26.6	40.5	13.9	17.7	1.3
4.	I tend to do things to extremes.	15.2	24.1	16.5	44.3	0
5.	Relinquishing my child was a traumatic experience.	1.3	3.8	6.3	88.6	0
6.	I have no regrets about relinquishing.	73.4	19.0	1.3	5.1	1.3
7.	I remember the details of leaving the hospital and the first day home.	45.6	7.6	6.3	40.5	0
8.	I was either misled or not informed of the effects that relinquishment would have on me.	2.5	3.8	8.9	84.8	0
9.	I don't feel particularly guilty.	69.6	16.5	5.1	8.9	0
10.	I have thought about killing myself.	36.7	21.5	19.0	22.8	0
11.	I don't feel I am being punished.	38.0	27.8	10.1	24.1	0
12.	I received adequate counseling at the time of the relinquishment.	93.7	6.3	0	0	0

SECTION "D" INSTRUCTIONS: The following questions concern your health history. Please indicate whether any of the following conditions or treatments have occurred since the relinquishment. Please check as many as apply.

Condition/Treatment	Percent
Breast cancer	6.3%
Cancer of the uterus (womb)	2.5%
Cancer of the ovary	1.3%
Colon or rectum cancer	2.5%
Endometriosis	13.9%
Hysterectomy	40.5%
Removal of ovary	25.3%
Miscarriage	39.2%
Infertility	6.3%
Cervicitis	7.6%
Cervical dysplasia	12.7%

SECTION "E" INSTRUCTIONS: The following items describe emotions and behaviors often associated with stressful life events. For each item, please circle the response that best describes your experience.

1. Since the relinquishment, have you experienced . . .

Emotion/Behavior	Not at All	Mild	Moderate	Severe	DK/NA
low self-esteem	2.5%	10.1%	43.0%	44.3%	0%
eating disorders	27.8	11.4	36.7	22.8	1.3
drug dependencies	50.6	17.7	22.8	8.9	0
difficulty giving/receiving love	10.1	20.3	36.7	31.6	1.3
depression	2.5	12.7	34.2	50.6	0
phobias	48.1	22.8	13.9	13.9	1.3
grieving for the loss of your child	1.3	5.1	27.8	65.8	0
relationship problems	5.1	20.3	30.4	44.3	0
memory loss (repression)	19.0	27.8	22.8	30.4	0
powerlessness	8.9	20.3	38.0	32.9	0
sexual problems	20.3	34.2	24.1	20.3	1.3

2. Since the relinquishment, have you experienced . . .

Emotion/Behavior	Not at All	Rarely	Sometimes	Often	DK/NA
grieving for the loss of your child	1.3%	6.3%	21.5%	70.9%	0%
problems forgiving	6.3	12.7	41.8	39.2	0
excessive smoking	32.9	6.3	24.1	36.7	0
excessive drinking	40.5	17.7	24.1	17.7	0
being out of touch with feelings	7.6	16.5	45.6	30.4	0
depression	0	10.1	36.7	53.2	0
compulsive shopping binges	20.3	20.3	36.7	22.8	0
uncontrollable yelling	31.6	22.8	25.3	19.0	1.3
excessive napping	21.5	27.8	30.4	20.3	0
low self-esteem	1.3	8.9	38.0	51.9	0
powerlessness	3.8	17.7	45.6	32.9	0
denial of feelings	6.3	17.7	38.0	38.0	0
self-hatred	17.7	15.2	30.4	36.7	0
avoidance of situations that bring up painful memories	7.6	16.5	38.0	38.0	0

3. Since the relinquishment, do you feel . . .

Emotion	Not at All	Rarely	Sometimes	Often
Anger	3.8%	7.6%	40.5%	48.1%
Shame	16.5	11.4	31.6	40.5
Remorse	3.8	3.8	34.2	58.2
Guilt	8.9	2.5	32.9	55.7
Hurt	0	1.3	29.1	69.6
Loneliness	1.3	16.5	25.3	57.0
Numbness	5.1	13.9	34.2	46.8
Happiness	1.3	21.5	48.1	29.1

Note: The words "birthmother" or "birthparent" are derogatory terms utilized by adoption "counselors" and "facilitators" in order to diminish a mother into playing a solely reproductive role in her child's life. The terms "birthmother" and "birthparents" are used on this site as a consession to search-engine requirements for a North American audience. The terms "mother", "single mother", "natural mother," and "exiled mother" are acknowledged to be accurate, respectful, and nonderogatory terms. See "Why Birthmother Means Breeder" by Diane Turski for more information.

J. Kelly Birthmother Research Project:

Table of Contents
Dedication
Acknowledgements
Chapter I: Introduction
Chapter II: Literature Review
Chapter III: Methodology
Chapter IV: Results
Chapter V: Discussion
Postscript
Appendices
References
Summarized Survey Results

Is your unmarried daughter pregnant? Consider options to help to keep your grandchild:

"Unplanned" Pregnancy Help

Lost a baby to adoption? Learn about the social policies designed to get more babies for adoption and get to know some other moms like yourself:

OriginsUSA: American Adoption and "Unwed" Mothers History

We chose a geneological theme for this website

because in infant adoption geneological connections to family are broken

and family trees demolished.

- 'Dear Birthmother' Letters - Unplanned Pregnancy Help - Domestic Adoption - Open Adoption Information -

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