approximately 5 years in the adoptive home. However, the ethnically matched families

had adolescents who were more likely to identify themselves as Mexican Americans and

had lower scores on a measure of acculturation. Also, the Mexican American parents

were more likely to socialize their children biculturally than the European American

parents.

 Other researchers have utilized qualitative methods to examine the ethnic identity

of international adoptees (Friedlander, 1999). A study of 12 parents and 12 children and

adolescents utilized interviews and family drawings (as a measure of family relationships

and sense of belonging) to study ethnic identity development. Results indicated that all

but one of the participants were in the unexamined phase of ethnic identity. The

implications are that international cross-ethnic adoption may be related to a lack of

exploration of ethnic identity by the adoptee.

 In a review of the research examining ethnic identity in internationally adopted

children, Friedlander and colleagues (2000) found that many cross-ethnically adopted

children are uncomfortable with their appearance and tend to have an Americanized

identity rather than a bicultural or achieved ethnic identity. These conclusions were

drawn from limited research and do not negate the findings that most of these children

and adolescents are fairly well adjusted (Friedlander et al., 2000). This population

(international adoptees) differs from ethnic minority group members born in the United

States. However, these findings provide some evidence that contact with those from the

same ethnic background can influence adolescent's ethnic identity development.

 Rhodes and Reddy (2002) compared same-race to cross-race matches in the

longitudinal evaluation of BBBS. The results indicated that there were differences

between the groups. Mentees talked more about their problems with cross-race matches.