ABSTRACT
The Chinese terminology for stress literally means “pressure” which carries a somewhat negative connotation. Adopters took a positive stance towards the cultural evaluation of adoption; a large majority of the respondents disagreed with the cultural value that adoption disrupts the family lineage. The need to tell children of their adoptive status as a major issue in the adoptive family life cycle seems to have gained general agreement by adopters in Hong Kong. Many adoptive parents found their adopted children similar to them in terms of intelligence than temperament and appearance. Sixty-eight per cent of the respondents suffered from infertility, the major reason of adoption in Hong Kong. In terms of specific adoptive parental qualities, almost all respondents regarded themselves to be assertive towards people who discriminate against the adoptive status of their children. Acquiring knowledge of child care and knowledge of adoptive parenting seemed to be an important personal resource for them.
