“Tracing a Hundred Years of Secrets” Finnish Adoptees’ Search for Birth Families Through DNA Testing

Abstract

Direct-to-consumer (DTC) DNA testing has become an increasingly popular tool for individuals seeking to uncover their biological origins. Among its most active users are adoptees, for whom the technology offers a new avenue for locating birth relatives. This study explores the birth family search narratives of Finnish adult adoptees who have utilized DTC DNA tests as part of their search process. The data consists of narrative interviews with eleven domestic and one transnational adoptee, analyzed using narrative analysis. The study examines key dimensions of the search process: the overall narrative tone, the degree of agency adoptees exercised, the role and perceived meaning of DTC DNA technology, and the outcomes of the search. Three distinct narrative types emerged: (1) Long difficult search, (2) Finding closure via successful search, and (3) Quick search with stirred emotions. The findings reveal that the search process involving DTC DNA testing was often emotionally taxing, with considerable variation in its length, intensity, and outcomes. In most cases, birth mothers were located through traditional search methods, while DTC DNA tests were primarily instrumental in identifying birth fathers. These results highlight the need for enhanced practical and emotional support for adoptees using DTC DNA technology in their search for birth family. In particular, guidance is needed on how to approach newly discovered relatives in an ethically responsible and sustainable manner. As genetic technologies continue to evolve and reshape the landscape of adoption searches, corresponding support systems and ethical frameworks must adapt in parallel.