CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

Adoption, a multifaceted phenomenon, extends beyond immediate connections between

adoptees and their adoptive parents. This research addresses the limited focus on the experiences

of biological children within families with adoptive siblings. Despite the increasing prevalence

of adoptive families, a significant gap remains in understanding how biological children navigate

identity, relationships, and well-being in households with adoptive siblings. The study aims to

contribute to a more holistic understanding of the impact of adoption on contemporary family

structures.

Many individuals worldwide express a desire to adopt children. According to Choi

(2019), about five million Americans are adopted, making up 2.5 percent of all children under

the age of 18. Consequently, adopting younger children is preferred over adopting older

ones. Families with existing children close in age to the adopted child may perceive them as

competitors, which could result in sibling rivalry and an obsession with perfection. Even if some

people are open with having adopted siblings, rivalry and competition are unavoidable.

Moreover, Hunsley et al. (2021) shares research and personal experience, noting that parents,

while focusing on the needs of adopted children, may unintentionally create misconceptions

about favoritism, potentially leading to emotional and mental health challenges for biological

children.

Globally, Adoption is one of the most captivating topics to have attracted the attention of

some researchers. It represents a remarkable relationship between the legal definition and effects

of an adoption order the way in which adopters and their children develop bonds of love and
attachment through the everyday social construction of family life (Logan & Smith, 2013).

Despite this good intention, adoption alters a child’s kinship network, including those

connections with siblings. The presence of an existing child or children in the adoptive home can

create added complexity to adoptive family life. For example, evidence suggests that adoption

disruption rates are higher in families with existing birth children. Difficulties may arise in

families where parents feel closer to their birth child or when the adopted child perceives this to

be the case. Birth children themselves may experience difficulties in adjusting to their new

family form (Meakings, et al., 2017).

In the Philippines, negative reactions toward adoption persist, particularly when a

biological child is involved, leading to instances of bullying and discrimination against adopted

children, as reported by Beltran (2023). Some adopted children are advised by their parents to

keep their adoption status a secret, contributing to feelings of insecurity and potential

mistreatment by biological siblings. It highlights the early responsibilities imposed on biological

children, who may be tasked with additional chores and support for their adopted siblings. As

families navigate the challenges of adoption, adjustments are made, but issues such as property

inheritance and financial matters may arise in later years. Respicio (2023) underscores that,

without a will or legal documentation, adopted children may lack claims to family properties,

potentially leading to feelings of rejection or being unwanted by biological siblings.

Locally, there are four judicial proceedings for adoption in Davao Region that are active.

Moreover, the Regional Alternative Child Care Office in Davao (Racco-Davao) exceeds its

target for domestic adoption in 2023 through the administrative process of adoption (Mendoza,

2023). In this case, Perez (2021) added that it is still important to balance the time for both

children to avoid the fights that they may apply in the future. Treating them the same and loving
them both can create a beautiful and positive mindset to a biological child that he or she is not

alone and for them to properly treat their adoptive siblings in a lovely way as well. Parents must

be the role model for both to build and achieve the stronger bond that they do want to have. But,

at this point, most biological children tend to have various ways of accepting and adapting to the

fact that they have adoptive siblings.

In line with the foregoing paragraph, the researchers wanted to present the various

challenges that the biological child experiences when it comes to an adoptive child. Not every

biological child may accept this fact easily. Some may be easily affected in the aspect of

physical, emotional, social, and mental attributes. Furthermore, the researchers also wanted to

present various ways on how to start building a stronger bond between these children as the

value of siblings are still present at those times. There are number of studies that show the

challenges of the adoptees, but most of these studies did not present the challenges that the

biological child or children was able to experience. The researchers wanted to have a deeper

understanding on why these kinds of challenges are present in them and how they deal with it

every time they feel those kinds of emotions. It is much important to give recommendations to

the parents as well to prevent further misunderstandings on both parties.

Purpose of the Study

The purpose of the conduct of this research is to oversee the life of biological children

with adoptive siblings. Specifically, this aims to answer these formulated questions:

1. What are the challenges that biological children experience when having adoptive

siblings?
2. What are the lessons that biological children gain from the experience of having adoptive

siblings?

3. What coping strategies they used to overcome those challenges?

Significance of the Study

The result of the study is significant to the following:

Biological Children. Would benefit in this study by having a further understanding about

their adoptive sibling and how would they cope up to those challenges.

Adoptive Siblings. Can use this study as a guide towards building a strong relationship

and bond to their other sibling.

Educators. Can highlight how the study contributes to a better understanding of the

dynamics withing families with both biological and adoptive children.

Parents. Can use this study to find out and determine which strategies would work to be

able to make both of their children loved.

Future Researchers. Researchers that aim to do a study related to biological children

experience when having adoptive siblings will able to use this study as a guide of what they can

do to deal children and make advantage of this as a stepping stone to creating a more effective

study solution.

Scope and Delimitation

This study is focused on presenting the various challenges and provide strategies for a

biological child at a sampled place in Digos City in 2023-2024. The study is limited only to those

children who have an adopted sibling. The limit of this study shows us how we can give
strategies on how to manage such situations. And to the process of delivery, it should focus on

the wellbeing of the biological children.

Definition of Terms

The following terms are defined to have a better understanding of this study.

Adoption Agencies. An agency that pairs up children who needs to be adopted with people

who wants and are willing to adopt them.

Adoptive. Refers to the process of legally taking another person's child into one's own

family, with the intention of raising and caring for them as if they were one's biological child.

Biological. It refers to connections based on blood or genes.

Educators. The people who teach kids, teens and young adults.

Emotional impact. Refers to the effect or influence that a particular event, situation, or

experience has on a person's emotions.

Imperative. means something that is crucial, essential, or of utmost importance.

Ingrained. refers to something that has become firmly established, or thoroughly ingrained

over time
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