Born this way: A psychological perspective on the disclosure of genetic origins in donor-conceived families

Recent developments in the study of donor-conceived families – those families formed through Assisted Reproductive Technologies involving donated gametes or embryos – have highlighted the need to investigate how individual, relational, and sociocultural factors interact to shape parental experiences. This dissertation focuses on donor-conceived families headed by heterosexual couples in Italy, with particular attention to parents’ disclosure decisions and practices regarding children’s genetic origins. The thesis is organised into five interconnected chapters. Chapter One addresses the societal context of Italian donor-conceived families by examining public knowledge, beliefs, and attitudes toward parenthood following gamete donation in Italy. Results of a survey with 624 participants showed limited public knowledge but generally positive attitudes toward donor conception. Donor-conceiving couples were perceived as highly committed to parenthood, though concerns emerged regarding relationship stability, reflecting perceptions of genetic asymmetry as a potential source of vulnerability in donor-conceived families. Chapter Two presents a systematic review of 46 studies on couple dynamics and relationship quality in donor-conceived families. Results indicate high levels of relational satisfaction and stability in gamete-recipient couples, with relationship dynamics related to decision making and agreement on donor disclosure. Chapter Three explores disclosure practices in 377 Italian heterosexual couples who conceived through assisted reproduction with or without gamete donation. Gamete-recipient parents were more likely to disclose early, often before the child turned seven, and adopted gradual communication strategies. Disclosure behaviours were associated with couple relationship quality, underlining their inherently relational dimension. Chapter Four examines relational and socio-cognitive factors underlying parents’ intentions of disclosure of donor conception to children, integrating attachment theory and the Theory of Planned Behaviour. Findings from an integrated mediation model show that negative attitudes toward disclosure seem to mediate the relationship between parents’ insecure attachment styles and disclosure intentions. Finally, Chapter Five develops a theoretical reflection situated within attachment theory, focusing on family secrets and their effects on relational dynamics, and particularly on how secrecy about children’s genetic origins affects donor-conceived families. Secrecy is conceptualised as an attachment-related process, with implications for parental narrative coherence, emotion regulation strategies, and parenting practices. Overall, the dissertation integrates societal, interpersonal, and individual dimensions, converging into a theoretical reflection on disclosure and secrecy in donor-conceived families. The project highlights the interplay between sociocultural context, couple dynamics, and psychological family functioning, offering insights for clinical practice and policy to support gamete-recipient couples facing specific psychosocial challenges related to donor conception and disclosure of children’s genetic origins.