Integration of donor conception into identity and parental attachment: adolescents in heterosexual-couple and lesbian-couple families

Abstract

Research question

Is parental attachment related to the integration of donor conception into identity among adolescents in heterosexual-couple and lesbian-couple families following identity-release oocyte and sperm donation?

Design

A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2022–2023 as part of a longitudinal study on two-parent families with donor-conceived children. Of 128 donor-conceived adolescents approached, 100 (78% response rate) participated. Adolescents’ attachment to their parents was measured with the validated Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment instrument, and integration of donor conception into identity with the Donor Conception Identity Questionnaire subscales Curiosity and Avoidance. Data analyses were performed with multiple linear regression analyses.

Results

Adolescents with more secure ratings of attachment to their father/co-mother were less curious about their donor origin (P = 0.010). Although showing a rather small effect (R² = 0.073), the significant relationship remained when controlling for donation group, gender and age. No relationship was found concerning attachment to the birth mother (P = 0.125). Parental attachment was not related to feelings of avoidance with regards to their donor conception. Overall, the adolescents reported high ratings of attachment security to both parents and relatively low ratings of curiosity and avoidant feelings concerning the donor conception.

Conclusion

Among adolescents in heterosexual-couple and lesbian-couple families, attachment to the co-parent rather than the birth mother appears influential for their curiosity about the donor conception, which points to the psychological complexities of donor conception in families with potential access to donor information.