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RESEARCH

Dr. Kim explores the ways in which individuals from marginalized communities understand their sense of self within contexts of oppression. As a diversity scientist, Dr. Kim builds upon and advances interdisciplinary approaches that acknowledge the systemic effects of racism, highlight the agentic nature of marginalized communities, and center the voices of these communities (e.g., critical race theory, critical adoption studies; see my papers: Kim & Lee, 2020; Lee et al., 2016; Yoo et al., 2018). Dr. Kim engages in two main lines of scholarship. First, they study the ways in which transnationally, transracially adopted individuals navigate the unique challenges of coming to terms with their adoption, their heritage, and their experiences of racialization. Second, they study identity politicization and the development of coalitions, with an interest in supporting collective action between and amongst marginalized communities.

CURRENT PROJECTS

Presently, my work focuses on representing the experiences of transnationally, transracially adopted individuals across the lifespan.

Estrangement in Adoptive Families

The estrangement project explores how adopted individuals and their adoptive families experience estrangement from each other. In partnership with Dr. Amanda L. Baden, we explore questions such as, "What does estrangement look like," "What are the precursors to estrangement," and "How do individuals in strained 

Korean Adoption Project

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Identity and Discrimination

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SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

MEASURING CULTURAL EXPLORATION: DEVELOPMENT OF THE RECULTURATIVE ACTIVITIES SCALE FOR ADOPTED INDIVIDUALS

Kim, A. Y., & Baden, A. L. (2025; Adoption Quarterly)

https://doi.org/10.1080/10926755.2025.2527052

IT'S COMPLICATED: ADULT ADOPTEES' RELATIONSHIP QUALITY AND CONTACT FREQUENCY IN ESTRANGEMENT

Baden, A. L., Kim, A. Y., Randall, R., Jasmin, M., Kobus, A., Haywood, T., Nsenkyire, K., & Holtz, N. (2025; The Family Journal: Counseling and Therapy for Couples and Families)

 https://doi.org/10.1177/10664807241312197

COALITIONAL IDENTITY AND COLLECTIVE ACTION: KOREAN AMERICANS FOR BLACK COLLECTIVE ACTION

Kim, A. Y., Lee, R. M., & Zhou, X. (2023; Asian American Journal of Psychology)

https://doi.org/10.1037/aap0000302

UNDERSTANDING ADOPTION AS A REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE ISSUE

Wexler, J. H., Cai, J., McKee, K. D., Blankenau, A., Lee, H., Kim, O., Kim, A. Y., & Lee, R. M. (2023; Psychology of Women Quarterly)

https://doi.org/10.1177/03616843231166376

PEOPLE OF COLOR ARE PEOPLE OF ACTION: ASIAN AMERICAN PARTICIPATION IN OWN-GROUP AND AFRICAN AMERICAN-ORIENTED COLLECTIVE ACTION

Kim, A. Y., & Lee, R. M. (2023; Group Processes and Intergroup Relations)

https://doi.org/10.1177/13684302221103962

THEORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE DIASPORIC IDENTITY SCALE WITH ADOPTED KOREAN AMERICANS

Kim, A. Y., Zhou, X., & Lee, R. M. (2021; Adoption Quarterly)

https://doi.org/10.1080/10926755.2021.1976337

A CRITICAL ADOPTION STUDIES AND ASIAN AMERICANISTINTEGRATIVE PERSPECTIVE ON THE PSYCHOLOGY OF KOREAN ADOPTION

Kim, A. Y., & Lee, R. M. (2020; The Routledge Handbook of Adoption)

CONCEPTUALIZATION AND MEASUREMENT OF BIRTH FAMILY THOUGHTS FOR ADOLESCENTS AND ADULTS ADOPTED TRANSNATIONALLY

Kim, A. Y., Kim, O. M., Hu, A. W., Oh, J. S., & Lee, R. M. (2020; Journal of Family Psychology)

https://doi.org/10.1037/fam0000631

COMMENTARY: AN ASIAN AMERICANIST PERSPECTIVE ON CHILD DEVELOPMENT

Lee, R. M., Kim, A. Y. J., Zhou, X. (2016; Child Development)

https://doi.org/10.1111/cdev.12575

KOREAN ADOPTEE IDENTITY: ADOPTIVE AND ETHNIC IDENTITY PROFILES OF ADOPTED KOREAN AMERICANS

Beaupre, A. J., Reichwald, R., Zhou, X., Raleigh, E., & Lee, R. M. (2015; Adoptees’ Ethnic Identity Within Family and Social Contexts)

https://doi.org/10.1002/cad.20124

JaeInKim (dot) PhD (at) gmail (dot) com

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©2025 by Jae-In Kim, Ph.D.

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