Two decades of psychological adjustment of donor-conceived offspring of lesbian parents: examining donor contact and type.

RESEARCH QUESTION: How stable is psychological adjustment in donor-conceived offspring of lesbian parents over 21 years, considering developmental stages, donor type and impact of donor contact?

DESIGN

Data were drawn from the US National Longitudinal Lesbian Family Study, a cohort of 70 donor-conceived offspring (71.43% heterosexual, 90.00% White) assessed across four developmental stages - childhood (age 10 years, Wave 4), adolescence (age 17, Wave 5), emerging adulthood (age 25, Wave 6) and established adulthood (ages 30-33, Wave 7). From parental reports, 34.29% had an anonymous donor, 34.29% a known donor and 31.43% an open-identity donor. At Waves 4 and 5, parents completed the Child Behavior Checklist to assess their child's psychological adjustment, while at Waves 6 and 7 the offspring assessed their psychological adjustment by completing the 120-item Achenbach Adult Self-Report. Growth curve models, stability coefficients and developmental pathway analyses explored trajectories by donor type, while a multivariate analysis examined differences by donor contact.

RESULTS

Across donor types, internalizing, externalizing and total problem behaviours showed low relative but high absolute stability, with fluctuations below clinical thresholds. Externalizing and total problem behaviours declined from childhood to adolescence, increased in emerging adulthood and stabilized in established adulthood. Donor type and contact did not significantly impact behavioural outcomes. Over 80% of offspring consistently scored within the normal range across all stages.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings underscore the psychological resilience of donor-conceived offspring of lesbian parents, irrespective of donor type or contact. This challenges assumptions about donor-related effects on adjustment, highlighting the importance of family relationships. Flexible, family-centred support and consideration of evolving genetic-linking technologies are recommended for policy-makers and practitioners.