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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2023 Feb 28.
Published in final edited form as: Adopt Q. 2020 Oct 29;24(3):177–206. doi: 10.1080/10926755.2020.1837315

Table 1.

Adoptive Mothers’ and Fathers’ Motivations for Adoption (in percentages)

How much does this statement reflect your reason for pursuing an adoption plan? Not at all A little bit Pretty much A lot
M F M F M F M F
I wanted to be a parent. 2.5 6.6 3.1 5.0 7.1 18.9 86.2 68.6
My partner and I were unable to have a child biologically. 8.6 9.5 10.2 9.8 11.1 15.2 68.8 64.2
I wanted to provide a home for a child who needs it. 14.8 11.7 33.2 35.0 20.3 23.3 30.5 29.0
I always planned to adopt a child. 44.0 60.6 28.9 22.1 9.8 8.5 15.7 6.9
I have parents, friends or other family members who have adopted. 41.8 44.2 34.5 34.7 8.9 8.8 13.5 11.4
I am or my partner was adopted. 90.2 91.1 2.5 3.2 0.6 1.6 4.9 3.2
I am concerned about overpopulation. 74.8 73.5 18.2 18.6 2.5 5.0 3.4 1.9
I (my spouse/romantic partner) did not want to be pregnant. 85.8 81.0 8.0 6.6 1.8 2.8 2.8 1.9
My partner and I were recruited to become adoptive parents. 94.8 93.4 2.5 2.8 0.9 1.9 0.6 0.6

Note. M = mother; F = father.