Experiences of individuals receiving "Not Parent Expected" results through direct-to-consumer genetic testing

Area of Science:

• Genetics and Genetic Testing
• Psychology and Human Behavior
• Family Studies and Relationships

Background:

• Direct-to-consumer genetic testing (DTC-GT) is increasingly popular.
• Unanticipated "Not Parent Expected" (NPE) results, where a parent is found not to be the biological parent, are becoming more common.
• The psychological and relational impact of these discoveries is not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the impact of discovering a "Not Parent Expected" (NPE) result through direct-to-consumer genetic testing (DTC-GT).
• To understand the emotional and relational consequences for individuals who receive NPE results.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study involving interviews with 25 participants who discovered an NPE result via DTC-GT.
• Thematic analysis of interview transcripts to identify common experiences and impacts.

Main Results:

• NPE discoveries significantly impacted participants' personal identity.
• Participants frequently experienced grief, loss, and a range of other emotions, regardless of prior suspicions.
• Strained parent/child relationships were common both before and after the NPE discovery, with varied outcomes when connecting with new biological family.

Conclusions:

• NPE results from DTC-GT have profound psychological and relational effects.
• The emotional toll includes grief and identity challenges.
• Further research is needed to fully comprehend and address the complexities of NPE discoveries.