A Study on the Cultural Influences Involved in the Decision to Place Children for International Adoption

Authors

Heather Hintze, Brigham Young University
Jini Roby, Brigham Young University

Keywords

cultural influences, international adoption, Republic of the Marshall Islands, RMI

College

Family, Home, and Social Sciences

Department

Social Work

Abstract

In the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), international adoption is very common. The RMI has one of the highest international adoption rates per capita in the world. This research project was designed to learn and understand the reasons behind this high international adoption rate in the RMI. The research project focused on investigating the cultural influences that cause Marshallese women to relinquish their child for international adoption. Currently, the work is still in progress. All of the information was obtained from Marshallese birth mothers living in the Marshall Islands. Now the data entry needs to be done at Brigham Young University before all the results can be stated. This research project is intended to be the beginning of more study and research on the various cultural influences that affect international adoption. Hopefully this research project will spur continually interest and more in depth study on international adoption specifically within the Republic of the Marshall Islands. The following is an outline of the research hypotheses and the methodology that was used.

Recommended Citation

Hintze, Heather and Roby, Jini (2014) "A Study on the Cultural Influences Involved in the Decision to Place Children for International Adoption," Journal of Undergraduate Research: Vol. 2014: Iss. 1, Article 357.
Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/jur/vol2014/iss1/357