Long-term British follow-up study of 2 7 Afro-Caribbean and mixed-race
children adopted by Caucasian parents, and 25 Caucasian children adop
ted by same race. parents, is reported. The adoptees were studied in t
he late 1970s, and 12 years later when they were, on average, 19 years
old. Outcomes for both groups in terms of a number of measures of adj
ustment and identity were generally excellent. Some 10% of both groups
, however, had poor adjustment. Although the outcomes for the transrac
ially adopted group are likely to be different in identity terms from
Afro-Caribbean children brought up in same-race families, there is no
evidence from this and other studies that such an intercultural identi
ty leads to unfavorable adjustment. On the contrary, these children se
em well prepared by transracial adoption to participate effectively in
a multicultural, multiracial society. Transracial adoption should be
considered for all children (Afro-Caribbean or Caucasian) who cannot b
e placed inracially.