Research explores how DNA testing is reshaping identity and family history

The growing popularity of at-home DNA testing kits is transforming how people understand their family histories and, at times, even their identities.

For gerontologist and sociologist Barbara Mitchell, a family mystery turned into a research journey. What began as a search to uncover her mother’s unknown biological father eventually became a research project examining the psychological and social impacts of genealogical discoveries and family reunions.

Uncovering a family mystery

Mitchell’s mother was raised by her grandparents in a small town in southwestern Ontario and never knew the identity of her biological father. For decades, finding answers seemed impossible. Accessing historical records was difficult, and home DNA testing kits were not available in Canada until around 2015.

The search became more urgent when Mitchell’s mother was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer in her late seventies. Around 2020, the two submitted saliva samples to an online genealogy database, hoping DNA matches might reveal clues about her paternal family.

For the next two years, Mitchell patiently reviewed new DNA matches as they appeared. Since databases grow only when new users submit samples, discoveries can take time.

Eventually, the pieces came together.

“I was able to pinpoint the identity of her biological father,” Mitchell says. “I was ecstatic, I felt like Nancy Drew.”

The search revealed that Mitchell’s mother had 13 half-siblings. Through DNA matches, Mitchell connected with several cousins, including one who lived nearby in Abbotsford. Together, they pieced together their family history. Although many relatives had already passed away, Mitchell’s mother was able to reunite with some of her newly discovered relatives before she died, a joyful conclusion to a lifelong mystery.

From personal discovery to academic research

The experience sparked a new direction for Mitchell’s research. “People kept telling me about skeletons in their own family closets,” she says.

As a researcher who studies family relationships and aging, Mitchell saw an opportunity to examine how genealogical technologies are reshaping family dynamics. The project aims to fill a key research gap by examining how older adults use genealogical technologies and how discoveries about biological relatives affect their identity, relationships, and well-being.

In 2023, Mitchell launched a four-year study exploring the psycho-social impacts of genealogical discoveries, particularly among older adults. The project includes a national online survey with nearly 275 participants, in-depth interviews, and a small documentary series highlighting stories of discovery and reunion.

Older adults are often drawn to genealogy, Mitchell explains, as retirement and other life transitions provide more time to explore family history. Many also feel a growing desire to preserve their family legacy for future generations.

When discoveries reshape identity

Early findings suggest that learning about previously unknown relatives can reshape how people understand their cultural, racial, and family identities. Some participants initially reported shock or disbelief, while others embraced new traditions or travelled long distances to meet relatives for the first time. Mitchell adds that popular genealogy television shows and documentaries often portray joyful reunions, shaping expectations for people exploring their own family histories, even though real-life discoveries can also involve disappointment or complex emotions.

For some participants, the impact has been especially significant. Nearly one in ten participants in the study identifies as Indigenous. Many were separated from their communities during the Sixties Scoop as a result of the Residential Schools. Reconnecting with biological relatives has helped many rebuild ties to their communities and strengthen their sense of identity and belonging.

Rebuilding fragmented histories

Despite the emotional complexity, many participants say the search itself has been meaningful.

Sharing their stories, sometimes for the first time, has helped individuals process difficult family histories and find a sense of acceptance and closure. In many cases, their discoveries have expanded their social networks and introduced new relationships across generations.

“People often associate aging with losing social ties,” Mitchell says. “But many of our participants are actually gaining new relationships and a renewed sense of belonging.”