Predictors of the Likelihood of Adoption Among U.S. Women by Race and Ethnicity

Christine E Guarneri, Texas A&M University

This paper utilizes a series of seven logistic regression models to examine the predictors of the likelihood of adoption among U.S. women based on the National Survey of Family Growth, Cycle 6. Individual characteristics that have been found most influential in determining adoption behavior in past studies were examined, including age, parity, fecundity status, and socioeconomic status. A special focus was placed upon the relationship between a woman’s race and ethnicity and her adoption behavior, which has received limited attention in the adoption literature. The results suggest that the main determinants of adoption are undergoing change: the relationships of parity, marital status, fecundity status and socioeconomic status with adoption behavior each exhibited surprising developments. Additionally, race and ethnicity were confirmed as important variables in terms of the adoption behavior of U.S. women. The implications of these results, as well as the need for more comprehensive adoption data, are also discussed.