The psychological effects related to being adopted may manifest later in life, such as in adolescence and adulthood. Relational challenges may also affect a person’s romantic relationships, leading to lower satisfaction, according to some 2024 research.
It’s possible that mental health effects result from a combination of genetic and environmental factors. A 2020 study conducted in the UK suggests that adoptees could have a higher chance of genetic predisposition to mental health problems in addition to the increased risk related to childhood experiences.
Adoptees can experience difficulties at different points in their lives. This often starts early from circumstances surrounding their birth family, but also includes the adoption, and later challenges relating to adjustment, identity, social stigma, and the effects of missing health history.
Early experiences, adoption, and loss
Adopted children have often faced maltreatment and are more likely to have experienced early stage adversity and traumatic events. These may include abuse, neglect, and unstable living conditions.
A person may also experience multiple relocations and foster families before being permanently adopted.
Some may assume that any issues a child might have are resolved once they are adopted. Indeed, a positive narrative commonly exists of adoption that may not fully account for the challenges adoptees actually face.
Some research has found that mental health does not improve once a child is adopted, which suggests adoptees require ongoing support.
Additionally, the adoption itself can be a source of trauma that may contribute to mental health effects. A 2024 study notes that separation from a birth family, particularly from the mother, may contribute to negative mental health effects. Additionally, a 2022 animal study suggests that being raised by a different family increases stress-related behaviours.
Though an adoption is generally seen as a time for celebration and fresh starts, it’s also important to acknowledge the sense of loss and confusion a child may be experiencing.
Identity, belonging, and sense of self
Following adoption, a person must adapt to a new family and, potentially, a new culture. They may not share the race of their adopted family and community, which can further complicate identity formation as the child grows up.
Additionally, they may have little information on their birth family due to a lack of access. These factors can all play a part in a loss of social identity and contribute to feelings of “otherness”.
Though not a recognized medical term, “genetic mirroring” is used by some to describe the experience of seeing a resemblance within your family. Little research currently exists on the topic; however, a lack of resemblance may affect the sense of identity and belonging.
Many adult adoptees seek to reconnect with their birth family to learn more about their personal history. This process can involve complex challenges, including unresponsive family members, language barriers, or disrupted relationships in either family.
Adoptees may discover discrepancies between the adoption story they were told and later information. This is sometimes referred to as “microfiction,” which could be introduced with the aim of protecting the child but may have unintended effects.
Social stigma and bias
Adopted people often face social stigma and bias. Particularly with transracial adoption, where a genetic difference may be more obvious, adoptees can face insensitive or intrusive questioning from both peers and adults. Questions may include asking about where a person is “really” from, or who their “real” parents are.
People can also have misconceptions of adoption and view it as a last choice. This can lead to adopted people feeling “less than” non-adopted peers. Social narratives also exist that may make a child believe they should feel “lucky” or “grateful” to be adopted.
Additionally, the media can negatively contribute to the stigma felt by an adopted person. Television shows often portray adoption in a negative way, using it as the target of a joke. For example, family members or siblings may quip that a child with different interests or features “must be adopted”.
According to the National Council for Adoption, medical providers do not routinely discuss adoption-related health concerns with patients. Indeed, a 2025 survey indicates that adoptees feel that healthcare professionals have knowledge gaps around the effects of limited family medical history on a person’s health.
Many also reported experiencing adoption-related discrimination.
Marking adoptee health records as “no medical concern” by default ignores cases where information is unknown, which may lead to missed opportunities for additional screenings or monitoring.
Knowledge of genetic predispositions, therefore, remains absent and is often identified only after symptoms occur. This removes the opportunity for early intervention, such as closer monitoring, additional screenings, or lifestyle changes.
For transracial adoptees, healthcare professionals may lack familiarity with health conditions present in the population of the origin country, as these may differ from those in the country they have been adopted into.
Conversely, a health condition may be more common in the adoptee’s ethnic background; however, this may be due to lifestyle factors that may not be relevant for an adopted person.
It’s a good idea for families to ask as many questions about their child’s health and family medical history early on in the adoption process. If you adopt from abroad, it can be best to ask these questions on site, as it may be the only chance you have to obtain this information.
For transracial adoptive parents, it’s important to understand and discuss issues related to bias or racism that your child may experience. Some research suggests that intentional “color blindness” can actually make a transracial adoptee feel more isolated when they must deal with racial stereotyping in society.
Furthermore, a 2019 study suggests that parents generally underestimate their child’s exposure to racism.
It’s important to ensure your child feels comfortable speaking about difficult feelings, as they may be apprehensive about hurting a parent’s feelings. Even after adoption, adoptees may continue to experience grief or loss and may feel pressure to minimize these feelings.
Validating feelings, responding to cues, and being open to questions is therefore crucial to ensure a child feels heard and supported.
As an adoptee, though there may be significant challenges in your life, know that many strategies can help you manage or protect against them.
Some challenges adoptees face may stem from early life experiences or later adjustment difficulties. Recognizing these factors can help you take proactive steps to support your well-being.
Even without access to family medical information, you can still take control of your health in many ways. These can include being intentional about healthy lifestyle choices, attending scheduled checkups, and speaking openly with your doctor about your concerns.
Additionally, being proactive and assertive about your needs and discussing the impact of adoption with your doctor can help ensure your unique challenges are not overlooked. This might include discussing the implications of gaps in your medical history and how this could affect your health.
Connecting with other adopted people may also offer you the opportunity to discuss similar experiences.
Help and support can also take the form of speaking with healthcare professionals, such as a counselor or psychologist.