BIRTHMOTHER RESEARCH PROJECT
SURVEY RESULTS
SECTION "A" INSTRUCTIONS: Below are some questions which will help us to understand the information provided by participants. Please supply the information in the space provided. For "Yes/No" responses, please circle your response.
1. In what year did you give birth?
|
Year |
Percent |
|
1965 |
13.9% |
|
1966 |
17.7% |
|
1967 |
16.5% |
|
1968 |
12.7% |
|
1969 |
11.4% |
|
1970 |
13.9% |
|
1971 |
8.9% |
|
1972 |
5.1% |
2. How old were you when you gave birth? Mean Age: 18.6
3. What is your current relationship status?
|
Status |
Percent |
|
Single |
3.8% |
|
Married |
63.3% |
|
Divorced |
20.3% |
|
Living with someone |
8.9% |
|
Separated |
1.3% |
|
Widowed |
2.5% |
4. How many other children do you have? None 26.6% One or more 73.4%
|
Q# |
Question |
Yes |
No |
DK/NA* |
|
5. |
Have you raised any other children you have had? (base: All) |
69.9% |
30.4% |
|
|
6. |
Was the adoption a closed adoption? |
92.4 |
5.1 |
2.5% |
|
7. |
Have you searched for your relinquished child? |
84.8 |
15.2 |
|
|
8. |
Have you been reunited with your relinquished child? |
67.1 |
32.9 |
|
|
9. |
If yes, are you still in contact with your relinquished child? |
88.7 |
11.3 |
|
|
10. |
Have you received psychotherapy because of the relinquishment? |
41.8 |
58.2 |
|
|
11. |
If yes, did it help? (base: Received psychotherapy) |
66.7 |
30.3 |
3.0 |
|
12. |
How long were you in therapy? (base: Received psychotherapy) |
Mean 31 mos |
|
|
|
13. |
Have you participated in any birthmother support groups? |
86.1 |
12.7 |
1.3 |
|
14. |
If yes, did it help? (base: Participated in support group) |
91.2 |
4.4 |
4.4 |
|
15. |
How long were you a member? (base: Participated in support group) |
Mean 17 mos |
|
|
*DK/NA = Don't Know/No Answer
SECTION "B" INSTRUCTIONS: Below is a list of statements made by people after stressful life events. Please respond to the following statements thinking about your entire relinquishment experience. (For the purpose of this survey, the "entire relinquishment experience" includes the time you first learned you were pregnant until the signing of the relinquishment papers.) Please circle the response for each statement indicating how frequently these statements were true for you since the relinquishment.
|
Q# |
Statement |
Not at All |
Rarely |
Some-times |
Often |
DK/ NA |
|
1. |
Any reminder brought back feelings about it. |
0% |
5.1% |
21.5% |
73.4% |
0% |
|
2. |
I had trouble staying asleep. |
10.1 |
22.8 |
34.2 |
30.4 |
2.5 |
|
3. |
Other things kept making me think about it. |
5.1 |
6.3 |
43.0 |
44.3 |
1.3 |
|
4. |
I felt irritable and angry. |
5.1 |
17.7 |
36.7 |
39.2 |
1.3 |
|
5. |
I avoided letting myself get upset when I thought about it or was reminded of it. |
2.5 |
20.3 |
41.8 |
35.4 |
0 |
|
6. |
I thought about it when I didn't mean to. |
1.3 |
6.3 |
26.6 |
65.8 |
0 |
|
7. |
I felt as if it hadn't happened or wasn't real. |
26.6 |
12.7 |
31.6 |
29.1 |
0 |
|
8. |
I stayed away from reminders about it. |
12.7 |
19.0 |
38.0 |
30.4 |
0 |
|
9. |
Pictures about it popped into my mind. |
0 |
10.1 |
31.6 |
58.2 |
0 |
|
10. |
I was jumpy and easily startled. |
21.5 |
22.8 |
30.4 |
25.3 |
0 |
|
11. |
I tried not to think about it. |
7.6 |
10.1 |
38.0 |
44.3 |
0 |
|
12. |
I was aware that I still had a lot of feelings about it, but I didn't deal with them. |
7.6 |
3.8 |
24.1 |
64.6 |
0 |
|
13. |
My feelings about it were kind of numb. |
10.1 |
11.4 |
24.1 |
54.4 |
0 |
|
14. |
I found myself acting or feeling like I was back at that time. |
11.4 |
30.4 |
41.8 |
16.5 |
0 |
|
15. |
I had trouble falling asleep. |
16.5 |
15.2 |
43.0 |
22.8 |
2.5 |
|
16. |
I had waves of strong feelings about it. |
3.8 |
10.1 |
30.4 |
55.7 |
0 |
|
17. |
I tried to remove it from my memory. |
25.3 |
12.7 |
22.8 |
39.2 |
0 |
|
18. |
I had trouble concentrating. |
5.1 |
21.5 |
54.4 |
19.0 |
0 |
|
19. |
Reminders of it caused me to have physical reactions such as sweating, trouble breathing, nausea, or a pounding heart. |
29.1 |
19.0 |
32.9 |
19.0 |
0 |
|
20. |
I had dreams about it. |
15.2 |
15.2 |
36.7 |
32.9 |
0 |
|
21. |
I felt watchful and on-guard. |
17.7 |
13.9 |
32.9 |
35.4 |
0 |
|
22. |
I tried not to talk about it. |
8.9 |
13.9 |
26.6 |
50.6 |
0 |
SECTION "C" INSTRUCTIONS: For each statement, please circle the response that best describes your experience.
|
Q# |
Statement |
Not at all true |
Some-what true |
Very true |
Extreme-ly true |
DK/NA |
|
1. |
Relinquishing my child was a great relief. |
73.4% |
15.2% |
2.5% |
8.9% |
0 |
|
2. |
I have forgotten details surrounding the birth, such as date of birth, name of hospital, etc. |
62.0 |
17.7 |
5.1 |
15.2 |
0 |
|
3. |
I feel emotionally "stuck" and unable to move forward. |
26.6 |
40.5 |
13.9 |
17.7 |
1.3 |
|
4. |
I tend to do things to extremes. |
15.2 |
24.1 |
16.5 |
44.3 |
0 |
|
5. |
Relinquishing my child was a traumatic experience. |
1.3 |
3.8 |
6.3 |
88.6 |
0 |
|
6. |
I have no regrets about relinquishing. |
73.4 |
19.0 |
1.3 |
5.1 |
1.3 |
|
7. |
I remember the details of leaving the hospital and the first day home. |
45.6 |
7.6 |
6.3 |
40.5 |
0 |
|
8. |
I was either misled or not informed of the effects that relinquishment would have on me. |
2.5 |
3.8 |
8.9 |
84.8 |
0 |
|
9. |
I don't feel particularly guilty. |
69.6 |
16.5 |
5.1 |
8.9 |
0 |
|
10. |
I have thought about killing myself. |
36.7 |
21.5 |
19.0 |
22.8 |
0 |
|
11. |
I don't feel I am being punished. |
38.0 |
27.8 |
10.1 |
24.1 |
0 |
|
12. |
I received adequate counseling at the time of the relinquishment. |
93.7 |
6.3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
SECTION "D" INSTRUCTIONS: The following questions concern your health history. Please indicate whether any of the following conditions or treatments have occurred since the relinquishment. Please check as many as apply.
|
Condition/Treatment |
Percent |
|
Breast cancer |
6.3% |
|
Cancer of the uterus (womb) |
2.5% |
|
Cancer of the ovary |
1.3% |
|
Colon or rectum cancer |
2.5% |
|
Endometriosis |
13.9% |
|
Hysterectomy |
40.5% |
|
Removal of ovary |
25.3% |
|
Miscarriage |
39.2% |
|
Infertility |
6.3% |
|
Cervicitis |
7.6% |
|
Cervical dysplasia |
12.7% |
SECTION "E" INSTRUCTIONS: The following items describe emotions and behaviors often associated with stressful life events. For each item, please circle the response that best describes your experience.
|
Emotion/ Behavior |
Not at All |
Mild |
Moderate |
Severe |
DK/NA |
|
low self-esteem |
2.5% |
10.1% |
43.0% |
44.3% |
0% |
|
eating disorders |
27.8 |
11.4 |
36.7 |
22.8 |
1.3 |
|
drug dependencies |
50.6 |
17.7 |
22.8 |
8.9 |
0 |
|
difficulty giving/receiving love |
10.1 |
20.3 |
36.7 |
31.6 |
1.3 |
|
depression |
2.5 |
12.7 |
34.2 |
50.6 |
0 |
|
phobias |
48.1 |
22.8 |
13.9 |
13.9 |
1.3 |
|
grieving for the loss of your child |
1.3 |
5.1 |
27.8 |
65.8 |
0 |
|
relationship problems |
5.1 |
20.3 |
30.4 |
44.3 |
0 |
|
memory loss (repression) |
19.0 |
27.8 |
22.8 |
30.4 |
0 |
|
powerlessness |
8.9 |
20.3 |
38.0 |
32.9 |
0 |
|
sexual problems |
20.3 |
34.2 |
24.1 |
20.3 |
1.3 |
|
Emotion/ Behavior |
Not at All |
Rarely |
Sometimes |
Often |
DK/NA |
|
grieving for the loss of your child |
1.3% |
6.3% |
21.5% |
70.9% |
0% |
|
problems forgiving |
6.3 |
12.7 |
41.8 |
39.2 |
0 |
|
excessive smoking |
32.9 |
6.3 |
24.1 |
36.7 |
0 |
|
excessive drinking |
40.5 |
17.7 |
24.1 |
17.7 |
0 |
|
being out of touch with feelings |
7.6 |
16.5 |
45.6 |
30.4 |
0 |
|
depression |
0 |
10.1 |
36.7 |
53.2 |
0 |
|
compulsive shopping binges |
20.3 |
20.3 |
36.7 |
22.8 |
0 |
|
uncontrollable yelling |
31.6 |
22.8 |
25.3 |
19.0 |
1.3 |
|
excessive napping |
21.5 |
27.8 |
30.4 |
20.3 |
0 |
|
low self-esteem |
1.3 |
8.9 |
38.0 |
51.9 |
0 |
|
powerlessness |
3.8 |
17.7 |
45.6 |
32.9 |
0 |
|
denial of feelings |
6.3 |
17.7 |
38.0 |
38.0 |
0 |
|
self-hatred |
17.7 |
15.2 |
30.4 |
36.7 |
0 |
|
avoidance of situations that bring up painful memories |
7.6 |
16.5 |
38.0 |
38.0 |
0 |
|
Emotion |
Not at All |
Rarely |
Sometimes |
Often |
|
Anger |
3.8% |
7.6% |
40.5% |
48.1% |
|
Shame |
16.5 |
11.4 |
31.6 |
40.5 |
|
Remorse |
3.8 |
3.8 |
34.2 |
58.2 |
|
Guilt |
8.9 |
2.5 |
32.9 |
55.7 |
|
Hurt |
0 |
1.3 |
29.1 |
69.6 |
|
Loneliness |
1.3 |
16.5 |
25.3 |
57.0 |
|
Numbness |
5.1 |
13.9 |
34.2 |
46.8 |
|
Happiness |
1.3 |
21.5 |
48.1 |
29.1 |