Our research is rooted in lived experience. Some team members have encountered life-changing DNA discoveries; others have not. This diversity enhances our strength: firsthand experience fosters empathy, while others contribute objectivity. Together, we combine emotional insight with scientific rigor to support this unique community.

The FAIR Research Studies, led by Michele Grethel, Ph.D., with USC’s Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, examine the impact of unexpected DNA discoveries on individuals and families. We document experiences with misattributed parentage, explore emotional and identity changes, and develop evidence-based support for those affected. Our research covers misattributed parentage experiences (MPEs) like Not Parent Expected (NPE), Donor-Conceived Parentage (DCP), and Late-Discovery Adoption (LDA). The FAIR 360° Project seeks to raise awareness and provide resources to those facing identity and family challenges from DNA revelations.

FAIR 360° Research Study: Status & Enrollment

This study examines how direct-to-consumer (DTC) DNA tests affect people and families when unexpected results, misattributed parentage experiences (MPEs), occur.

MPE Types:

  • Not-Parent Expected (NPE): Your presumed father is not your genetic father

  • Donor-Conceived (DC): You were conceived via donated sperm or eggs

  • Late-Discovery Adoption (LDA): Adoption found later in life

Eligibility:
You qualify if you’ve had an unexpected DNA discovery (NPE, DC, or LDA) or are a family member affected by such a discovery.

Participation:

  • One 60–90 minute phone interview

  • Confidential under IRB-approved protocols

  • Voluntary

Contact:
Michele Grethel, Ph.D., LCSW for participation or questions.

Past Research.

Disclosure dilemma: Revealing biological paternity to family and others after unexpected direct-to-consumer genetic results (Grethel, et al., 2024)

With the rise of direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic testing, many individuals are discovering unexpected biological paternity, known as “not parent expected” (NPE) discoveries. This study examines how adults manage the complex process of disclosing these findings to family and others, emphasizing the personal and relational impacts of such revelations.

Through interviews with 27 adults aged 40–70, we identify the “NPE disclosure dilemma,” characterized by uncertainty about sharing discoveries, anticipating others’ reactions, and coping with potential stigma, betrayal, or anger. Disclosure choices are shaped by cultural context, family history, and the desire to connect with new genetic relatives to affirm identity.

Unlike other sensitive disclosures, NPE revelations impact the entire family system, as they involve multiple relatives. Guided by family systems theory and the disclosure processes model, our findings shed light on the emotional complexities and identity challenges inherent in sharing unexpected genetic information in the modern era.

Discovery of unexpected paternity after direct-to-consumer DNA testing and its impact on identity (Grethel, et al., 2022)

This study explores the emotional journey of adults confronting unexpected paternity results, revealing how such discoveries reshape identity, family connections, and beliefs.

Interviews with 27 adults aged 40–70 uncovered a profound process of identity transformation:

  • Initial Discovery: Shock, fear, and a sense of lost genetic identity.

  • Identity Exploration: Emotional upheaval, genealogical research, and confronting family members.

  • Identity Reconstruction: Reconciling altered family histories and forming new narratives.

  • Worldview Shift: Changes in beliefs about kinship, race, ethnicity, religion, and belonging.

Findings highlight the isolating and emotionally taxing nature of integrating unexpected DNA results, underscoring the need for supportive resources to navigate grief, shame, and the broader impact on personal and community identity.

Quotes from Individuals on Their NPE Discovery and the Disclosure Dilemma

Below are reflections from individuals who experienced unexpected biological paternity (NPE) discoveries.

Why We Share These Stories

Participant voices highlight the emotional depth, vulnerability, and courage involved in navigating unexpected DNA discoveries.
These narratives guide our research, therapy, and support programs, ensuring that no one faces this journey alone.

Shock & Emotional Overwhelm

“Oh my gosh. I couldn’t even see. All I could see was like a whirling tornado. Like, I didn’t know it felt like a frickin’ tornado over my head. I was scared. I felt like I was losing my family. Just like a tornado. When things fly out of a tornado, I felt like my relatives were going to be ripped away… I was numb. I just didn’t know. It was weird. I was upset. Then I had to calm down and realize, okay, they’re my family. It’s okay, bring yourself back to the present.”

— Participant, FAIR DNA Study

The Complexity of Sharing the Truth

“The other thing I worried [about] in telling the story is people’s like, well, this doesn’t make your mother look good. I said, well wait a minute. Actually, now I really have more of an emotional tie with my mother and I feel really bad because if you think about it at that time in 1963, it was a very different period of time… She did what she had to do.”

— Participant, FAIR DNA Study

“I have two days of just hanging out and having fun and going out to dinner and having wine [with my biological mother and sister]. And because that may be the last two days I’m ever going to have with Mom. She may kick me out of the house. Never want to see me again after I have to talk with her. I don’t know. I just didn’t know.”

— Participant, FAIR DNA Study

Searching for Answers

“And so I started sleuthing, and I ended up testing everyone on my dad’s side of the family. And then also I started going to this woman’s site on Ancestry and looking at her family tree. And I kind of came up with the idea, narrowed it down to just one man who I thought was my dad.”

— Participant, FAIR DNA Study

Identity Struggles & Imposter Feelings

“You’re kind of in this land of being an imposter. You feel a little bit like you’re pretending to be part of a club that you’re not really part of. And even if you feel like maybe if you told them they’d be like, ‘Oh that’s fine. We love you anyway.’ You’re just being an imposter. That’s what it feels like to me, imposter syndrome. So I think that’s hard. Because you can’t… There’s no win there. It’s bad if you do and bad if you don’t.”

— Participant, FAIR DNA Study

Moments of Courage & Connection

“So he agreed to meet with me, and I was scared he was going to reject me. I was really scared, why did I call him? I thought well, I don’t know if I can handle this personal rejection if he doesn’t want to talk to me. So, I agreed to meet with him and met him at [a local restaurant] for lunch. He shows up, and he’s got a little present for me. And we sat there for 3 hours and talked.”

— Participant, FAIR DNA Study