Adoptive Fathers and Birthfathers: A Study of Attitudes.

The attitudes of adoptive fathers toward the birth fathers of their adopted children were examined in this study. One hundred thirteen adoptive fathers answered a questionnaire about their infertility history, the adoption experience, source of information about the birth father of their child, type of adoption, frequency and topics of thoughts about the birth father, and the influence of the adoptive parents and the birth parents on the characteristics of the child. Level of attachment was also discussed. Respondents reported that pre- adoption preparation and social workers contributed the most to the development of their positive attitudes toward birth fathers. Negative attitudes were attributed to media influences. Positive attitudes were also promoted by meetings with the birth father. Adoptive fathers believed that their children developed most of their characteristics from themselves and their wives, rather than from the birth parents. Father- child attachment was highest among adoptive fathers who saw their influence in their adopted child's life. Implications for practice, teaching, and research are reviewed. 34 references.