- Landmark study finds no difference in psychological wellbeing or quality of family relationships between children born by assisted reproduction (egg or sperm donation or surrogacy) and those born naturally at age 20.
- However, findings suggest that telling children about their biological origins early – before they start school – can be advantageous for family relationships and healthy adjustment.
Newswise —
Researchers from the University of Cambridge have conducted a pioneering study that delves into the lasting impacts of various forms of third-party assisted reproduction on parenting dynamics and child well-being. Notably, this study also breaks new ground by prospectively exploring how the age at which children are informed about their conception through methods such as egg donation, sperm donation, or surrogacy can influence their adjustment.
The latest findings of the study, which have been published in the esteemed journal Developmental Psychology, indicate that the lack of a biological link between parents and children in families formed through assisted reproduction does not hinder the formation of strong emotional bonds or impact psychological well-being in adulthood. These results are in line with earlier assessments conducted at various stages of childhood, including ages one, two, three, seven, ten, and fourteen.
The study's findings challenge previous commonly held beliefs that children conceived through third-party assisted reproduction, such as egg donation, sperm donation, or surrogacy, are at a disadvantage in terms of their well-being and family relationships due to the absence of a biological connection with their parents. "Contrary to concerns, our research shows that families with children born through third-party assisted reproduction are thriving well into adulthood," said Professor Susan Golombok, an esteemed researcher in Family Research and former Director of the Centre for Family Research at the University of Cambridge, who spearheaded the study.
Interestingly, the study also revealed that mothers who initiated discussions with their children about their biological origins during their preschool years reported more positive relationships with their children when assessed during interviews at age 20. Additionally, these mothers exhibited lower levels of anxiety and depression. It was observed that most parents who disclosed this information did so by the age of four, and the children generally responded well to the news. This implies that being open with children about their origins from a young age may have advantages in terms of fostering positive relationships and reducing parental anxiety and depression.
Furthermore, in the last stage of this comprehensive 20-year study, it was found that mothers who had shared information about their child's origins by the age of seven obtained slightly higher scores on measures of family relationship quality, parental acceptance (i.e., mother's feelings towards the young adult), and family communication, as assessed through questionnaires. For instance, only 7% of mothers who had disclosed by age seven reported experiencing problems in family relationships, in contrast to 22% of those who disclosed after the age of seven. These findings suggest that early disclosure, before the child reaches seven years of age, may have a positive impact on various aspects of family dynamics and communication.
Furthermore, the study found that young adults who had been informed about their origins before the age of seven received slightly higher scores on questionnaire measures related to parental acceptance (i.e., the young adult's perception of their mother's feelings towards them), communication (i.e., feeling listened to, being aware of what's happening in the family, and receiving honest answers to questions), and psychological well-being. Moreover, they were less likely to report problems on the family relationships questionnaire. Specifically, while 50% of young adults who were informed after the age of seven reported experiencing problems in family relationships, only 12.5% of those who were told before the age of seven reported such issues. These findings suggest that early disclosure, prior to the age of seven, may have a positive impact on the young adults' perception of parental acceptance, communication within the family, psychological well-being, and overall family relationships.
The study, conducted by researchers from the University of Cambridge, followed 65 families in the UK who had children born through assisted reproduction methods, including surrogacy, egg donation, and sperm donation, from infancy to early adulthood (20 years old). These families were compared with 52 families who had conceived without assisted reproduction methods over the same period.
Golombok further explained, "The assisted reproduction families were functioning well, but where we did see differences, these were slightly more positive for families who had disclosed." This suggests that early disclosure about their conception to children born through assisted reproduction may have beneficial effects on family dynamics and relationships, as observed in other studies on adoptive families as well.
The young adults in the study generally expressed a nonchalant attitude towards their biological origins. One young adult born through surrogacy stated, "It doesn't faze me really, people are born in all different ways and if I was born a little bit differently - that's OK, I understand." Similarly, a young adult born through sperm donation said, "My dad's my dad, my mum's my mum, I've never really thought about how anything's different, so it's hard to put, I don't really care." Some young adults even embraced the method of their conception, feeling that it made them special, with one saying, "I think it was amazing, I think the whole thing is absolutely incredible. I don't have anything negative to say about it at all."
Interestingly, the researchers found that mothers who conceived through egg donation reported slightly less positive family relationships compared to mothers who conceived through sperm donation. The researchers suggest that this could be due to some mothers' insecurities about the absence of a genetic connection to their child. However, this discrepancy was not reflected in the young adults' perceptions of the quality of family relationships, indicating that their perspective on their family dynamics was largely positive regardless of the method of their conception.
The study also revealed that young adults conceived through sperm donation reported poorer family communication compared to those conceived through egg donation. This could be attributed to the greater secrecy surrounding sperm donation compared to egg donation, which may be influenced by fathers' reluctance to disclose to their child that they are not their genetic parent, as well as a greater reluctance to discuss it even after disclosure.
The findings also showed that the rate of disclosure varied among different types of assisted reproduction. Only 42% of sperm donor parents had disclosed to their child by age 20, compared to 88% of egg donation parents and 100% of surrogate parents.
The researchers noted that while today, families created through assisted reproduction are increasingly accepted as ordinary, attitudes were different when the study began 20 years ago. Back then, there was a perception that having a genetic link was crucial for successful family relationships. However, this research challenges that notion, suggesting that unconventional methods of conception do not interfere with family functioning. The desire to have children and the love and care provided by parents seem to be the most important factors in family dynamics, regardless of the method of conception.
The research discussed in this article was funded by a Wellcome Trust Collaborative Award, indicating the importance of understanding and studying different family forms and their impact on children and parents.
Furthermore, the Centre for Family Research, led by Professor Susan Golombok, is collaborating with the Fitzwilliam Museum on an upcoming exhibition titled "Real Families: Stories of Change", which will feature works by artists such as Paula Rego, Chantal Joffe, JJ Levine, Lucian Freud, and Tracey Emin. This exhibition aims to explore the complexities of families and family relationships from various perspectives, including those of unconventional family forms.
Professor Susan Golombok has also authored a book titled "We Are Family: What Really Matters for Parents and Children" published by Scribe, which delves into her research on new family forms spanning from the 1970s to the present day. This highlights the ongoing efforts to understand and shed light on the evolving landscape of families and parenting in modern society.
Professor Susan Golombok is author of We Are Family: What Really Matters for Parents and Children (Scribe) which describes researching new family forms from the 1970s to the present day.
ENDS.
About the University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is one of the world’s leading universities, with a rich history of radical thinking dating back to 1209. Its mission is to contribute to society through the pursuit of education, learning and research at the highest international levels of excellence.
Cambridge was second in the influential 2023 QS World University Rankings, the highest rated institution in the UK.
The University comprises 31 autonomous Colleges and over 100 departments, faculties and institutions. Its 20,000 students include around 9,000 international students from 147 countries. In 2022, 72.5% of its new undergraduate students were from state schools and more than 25% from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
Cambridge research spans almost every discipline, from science, technology, engineering and medicine through to the arts, humanities and social sciences, with multi-disciplinary teams working to address major global challenges. In the Times Higher Education’s rankings based on the UK Research Excellence Framework, the University was rated as the highest scoring institution covering all the major disciplines.
The University sits at the heart of the ‘Cambridge cluster’, in which more than 5,200 knowledge-intensive firms employ more than 71,000 people and generate £19 billion in turnover. Cambridge has the highest number of patent applications per 100,000 residents in the UK.
Real Families: Stories of Change
6 October – 7 January 2024
Real Families is a major exhibition exploring the intricacies of families and family relationships through the eyes of artists. The theme of the family has been interpreted and represented for centuries, but, especially during the last fifty years, Western ideas of what makes a family and how family life is experienced have been transformed by advances in science and by changes in social attitudes and law. Developed in collaboration with the world-leading Centre for Family Research at the University of Cambridge, the exhibition shows how the joys, tensions and transitions in families have little to do with conforming to traditional structures. Instead, acceptance, rejection, conflict and comfort arise from relationships within family groups of all kinds, and through connections with the outside world. Painting, photography, video, sculpture and installations by artists including Paula Rego, Chantal Joffe, JJ Levine, Lucian Freud and Tracey Emin tell moving and enduring stories of intimacy, alienation and everything in between.
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