The Ripple Effects of Misattributed Parentage: The Systemic Family Impact of “Not Parent Expected” Discoveries

Abstract

Direct-to-consumer (DTC) DNA testing has led to a surge in misattributed parentage discoveries, often referred to as “not parent expected” (NPE) events. While prior research has focused primarily on the experiences of those discovering a parent was not as expected, this qualitative study explores the systemic impact of NPE events on entire families by examining how such discoveries are experienced by multiple family members. Drawing on in-depth interviews with 43 members of 11 families in the United States and Canada, we identified four interrelated processes characterizing family responses to NPE discoveries: systemic disruption, intergenerational secrecy and betrayal, ambiguous loss and identity renegotiation, and adaptive realignment over time. Guided by Family Systems Theory, Ambiguous Loss Theory, Betrayal Trauma Theory, and Communication Privacy Management Theory, we illustrate how NPE discoveries destabilize family roles, challenge kinship boundaries, and prompt complex negotiations of trust, identity, and information sharing. Our results highlight the widespread emotional impact on family members and the varied pathways they take toward adaptation, with outcomes shaped by pre-existing family dynamics, the response of the parent who had been keeping the secret, and the family's capacity for open communication and meaning making. Implications of this research include the need for family-centered therapeutic interventions, enhanced education and training for mental health professionals to address the unique challenges NPE discoveries pose, and greater public awareness of the psychosocial consequences these events have on families.