Late discovery of genetic origins: Research Data

The late discovery experience...

Many adolescents and adults find out that the truth of their genetic origins was intentionally concealed from them. This intentional secrecy can have significant effects before disclosure and the 'late discovery' experience itself can have significant implications for personal identity, relationships with others and values. Existing research identifies feelings of betrayal, loss of trust and difficulty forgiving as significant features of this experience. It also notes the negative effects secrets of this kind have on family dynamics and identity construction.

I have felt for some time that a specific 'late discovery' site was needed to provide (a) information about existing research on 'late discovery' with links to other sites offering information and support, and (b) to begin to try to gather some broad statistical information about 'late discovery' experiences.

This is a personal initiative to start building an information database that can be used to develop a picture of 'late discovery' experiences internationally. I hope that the information gathered can be used as a tool to seek funding for a more permanent website and the establishment, perhaps, of an international late discovery of genetic origins network in the future if there is sufficient support for the concept.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?
Provide information to any or all of the questions below.
No identifying information is required! All responses will be collated periodically and the data added to this site.
Go to late discovery questionnaire...

Who am I?

My name is Helen Riley and I am a late discovery adopted person. I found out I was adopted at the age of 21. This secret and its 'late discovery' had implications for my identity pre-disclosure, and significant long-term impacts on my identity, on my relationships with others and on my values.

I have been interested for many years in raising awareness about the effects and implications of discovering the truth of one's genetic origins later in life. I am currently conducting PhD research at the Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane, Australia, into the ethical implications of this type of secrecy and its late discovery as an adult. This research includes gathering stories from both late discovery adopted people and donor insemination offspring. There are links on this site to my published research and other research on this topic.

I have set up this site in order to try and gather more information and data about 'late discovery' experiences, and to provide a central point for accumulating information about the different types of late discovery – eg. late discovery of adoptive status, late discovery of donor conception status, and other types that may not fall into either of these categories.

Late discovery of genetic origins

The late discovery experience...

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