Fathers of adopted children: a study of the impact of child surrender on birthfathers.

Data on their children's adoptions and their own subsequent adjustment were provided by 125 birthfathers. Paternal age at the child's birth, involvement in the adoption process, and the major reason for adoption determined the birthfathers' current views of adoption. Search for the child was correlated with hopes of retrieval. Loss of the child remained an unresolved issue independent of other areas of functioning. Legal and procedural implications are discussed.