PSYCHOLOGICAL ADJUSTMENT IN ADOPTED ADULTS: IDENTITY DEVELOPMENT, ANXIETY, AND ASSERTIVENESS – A NARRATIVE REVIEW

Adoption is widely recognized as a positive developmental intervention; however, its long-term psychological consequences remain the subject of ongoing debate. This narrative review synthesizes current evidence on psychological adjustment among adopted adults, with a particular focus on identity development, anxiety, and assertiveness. The reviewed literature indicates that adoption itself should not be regarded as either a protective or a risk factor for psychological well-being. Instead, long-term outcomes are influenced by the interaction of attachment security, family functioning, and openness about adoption, resilience, and social support. Identity development is conceptualized as a normative developmental process, while evidence regarding anxiety suggests that emotional adjustment is more strongly associated with early life experiences and family relationships than with adoption status alone. The review also highlights the limited research on assertiveness among adopted adults and identifies this as an important direction for future investigation. Overall, the findings support a resilienceoriented perspective and emphasize the importance of developmental and relational factors in promoting positive psychological adjustment throughout adulthood.