DI Disclosure Case Study

Proposition 2: The threat of accidental discovery and the desire for openness positively influence DI disclosure. The two key motives that promote disclosure include the prevention of accidental discovery and the desire to be open and honest within the family. Parents often share this sensitive information with somebody who is close to them, namely “family, friends, health professionals, teachers, work managers and childminders” (Lycett, Daniels, Curson, & Golombok, 2005, p. 814). Accordingly, parents are afraid that their child might discover the information accidentally through others, which would be detrimental to the parent-child relationship. Second, parents desire openness and honesty with their child, they do not want to keep secrets or lie to them. Many also believe that a child has the right to know where their roots lie (Lycett, Daniels, Curson, & Golombok, 2005).

Proposition 3: Family type determines the age at which parents disclose about sperm donor conception to their child. Family type is a significant predictor of the age at which parents will disclose about donor insemination to the child. According to

Disclosing families, according to Lycett, Daniels, Curson, Golombok and (2004), have more positive parent-child relationships than families who do not disclose. It is said that disclosers have fewer family difficulties, as mothers who preferred disclosure encountered less arguments with their children (Lycett, Daniels, Curson, Golombok, 2004). With respect to fathers, however, there was no difference between disclosing and non-disclosing fathers in this area. Finally, disclosing parents perceive themselves as more competent than nondisclosing couples (Lycett, Daniels, Curson, Golombok, 2004). Overall, secrecy and nondisclosure about a child’s donor conception interferes with family communication and family