Volunteers needed for UQ adoption and family study

A University of Queensland research project is seeking volunteers for a study comparing aspects of individual and relationship wellbeing in adult adoptees and non-adoptees.

The School of Psychology study focuses on people who have lived at home with two parents (adoptive or biological) for the first 16 years of their life.

"We expect that the information gained will be of use to adoptees, their families, and professionals who work in the adoption area, such as counsellors," said project coordinator Tracey Keegan.

"Previous research suggests that participants often report some benefit from being given the opportunity to 'tell their story' in similar research projects.

"Our experience suggests that participants are not likely to encounter any adverse effects as a consequence of participating in our project."

Participants must:
á be over 18;
á have lived at home with two parents, in an intact family, for the first 16 years;
á not identify as a member of the stolen generation;
á have been adopted by strangers (not a relative, not a stepparent);
á have been living in Australia at the time of adoption;
á have been adopted before the age of two years; and
á have been adopted into a family living in Australia at that time. Participants will be asked to complete a series of short questionnaires on a number of variables (family relationships, peer relationships and general well-being).

Ms Keegan said participation in the first phase of the project would take about two hours.

"Participants are free to complete the questionnaires at an appointment on campus, or via the post, or with a scheduled home visit," she said.

"There is no payment for this first phase. Optional follow-up phases of the project begin in approximately six months and will involve completing a short questionnaire and/or a brief interview."

For more information, or to participate in the project, contact Tracey Keegan (phone 07 3365 6257), email: keegan@psy.uq.edu.au, or Brad Turner at UQ Communications (phone 07 3365-2659), email: b.turner@uq.edu.au