Abstract
Direct-to-consumer DNA testing is increasingly affordable and accessible, and the potential implications from these tests are becoming more important. As additional people partake in DNA testing, larger population groups and information will cause further refinement of results and more extensive databases, resulting in further potential opportunities to connect biological relatives and increased chances of testers potentially having their identities re-aligned, reinforced or solidified. The effects of DNA testing were explored through 16 semi-structured in-depth interviews conducted with participants who had received their DNA test results. These participants came from diverse groups, genders and ethnic backgrounds. A thematic analysis found that notions of family were frequently challenged with unexpected DNA test results causing shifts in personal and social identities, especially in their family and biological identities. Discrepancies in DNA test results prompted re-negotiation of these identities and affected their feelings of belonging to their perceived social groups. Participants’ identities were important to them in varying degrees, with some feeling stronger connections with specific identities, thus having significant re-alignment of these identities and feelings of belonging. This article discusses the thematic analysis’s findings and explores how identities of the participants, many of whom took the test for genealogical purposes, were affected by DNA test results. As more people undertake DNA testing, it is important to explore how it may change the notions of family in the future and how their biological and family identities are affected.
Highlights
Direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic testing is becoming more pervasive as people complete tests to find out more about themselves
This study found that DNA test results affected participants’ social or group identities, making social identity theory valuable in this research and reflecting the varied perspectives that participants held
Discrepancies in the DNA test results noted by participants prompted re-negotiation of identities and affected their feelings of belonging to their perceived social groups, especially their family and biological groups
Summary
Direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic testing is becoming more pervasive as people complete tests to find out more about themselves. According to Jhamb (2021), the DTC testing industry is projected to “grow from $1.4 billion in 2020 to $2.6 billion by 2025 with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.2% for the period of 2020–. This reinforces the growth of the industry and reflects the increase in testing (namely, autosomal, mtDNA and Y-DNA), where the implications from people receiving their results are becoming more complex and, in some cases, changing people’s lives. This article discusses selected findings from a qualitative research study that interviewed sixteen participants on the effects of DNA tests on their identities. Participants were found through a combination of purposive and snowball sampling, and they had to have completed a DNA test or would be receiving their results during the time of data collection
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