Tech-Mediated and Traditional Communication Modes in Adult Adoptees' Contact With Birth Parents.

Objective: To understand how adult adoptees use traditional and tech-mediated modes of communication in contact with birth parents. To examine associations between desire for increased use of both modes and quality of relationship.

Background: As tech-mediated modes of communication become more commonplace, it is important to understand their implications for family relationship quality. Limited research has examined the use of tech-mediated modes of communication between adult adoptees and birth parents.

Methods: Participants (M age = 31 years) were adopted as infants (N = 90). Participants reported their current and desired future use of traditional and tech-mediated communication modes and their satisfaction with contact, current closeness, desired future closeness, and psychological presence of birth parents.

Results: Those with current contact reported using both traditional and tech-mediated modes of communication. Desired increase of traditional modes was associated with greater psychological presence and desired future closeness with birth mothers, while both traditional and tech-mediated were associated with these outcomes for birth fathers.

Conclusions: Adult adoptees use both traditional and tech-mediated modes of communication with their birth parents. However, these modes may play distinct roles in maintaining close relationships with birth parents. Conclusions: Family professionals should consider the unique roles traditional and tech-mediated modes of communication may play when supporting adult adoptees in contact with birth relatives.