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The role of age of disclosure of biological origins in the psychological wellbeing of adolescents conceived by reproductive donation: A longitudinal study from age 1 to age 14

Ilioi, Elena; Blake, Lucy; Jadva, Vasanti; Roman, Gabriela; Golombok, Susan

The role of age of disclosure of biological origins in the psychological wellbeing of adolescents conceived by reproductive donation: A longitudinal study from age 1 to age 14 Thumbnail


Authors

Elena Ilioi

Vasanti Jadva

Gabriela Roman

Susan Golombok



Abstract

Background
The question of whether children should be told of their biological origins is one of the most controversial issues regarding the birth of children through donated eggs, sperm, embryos or surrogacy.

Methods
In the sixth phase of this longitudinal study when the children were aged 14 years, family relationships and adolescent adjustment were examined in 87 families created through reproductive donation and 54 natural conception families. The quality of family relationships was assessed by standardised interview with mothers and by standardised questionnaires and an observational measure with mothers and adolescents. Adolescent adjustment was assessed using standardised questionnaires. Systematic information on whether and when parents had told children about their biological origins was obtained at earlier phases of the study.

Results
There were no overall differences between disclosing families and either nondisclosing or natural conception families. However, within the disclosing families, more positive family relationships and higher levels of adolescent wellbeing were found for adolescents who had been told about their biological origins before age 7.

Conclusions
The earlier children born through reproductive donation are told about their biological origins, the more positive are the outcomes in terms of the quality of family relationships and psychological wellbeing at adolescence.

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Oct 25, 2016
Online Publication Date Dec 2, 2016
Publication Date Mar 1, 2017
Deposit Date Oct 3, 2021
Publicly Available Date Oct 5, 2021
Journal Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry
Print ISSN 0021-9630
Electronic ISSN 1469-7610
Publisher Wiley
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 58
Issue 3
Pages 315-324
DOI https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.12667
Keywords Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health; Developmental and Educational Psychology; Psychiatry and Mental health
Public URL https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/7521466

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