Misattributed paternity, a circumstance when a man is incorrectly believed to be a genetic father of a child, is as old as humanity. It is quite common, too. Modern studies indicate that anywhere between 1% and 4% of children in Western populations are raised by fathers who are not related to the child by blood, often without anyone in the family being aware of this fact. In some demographics, for example, in Latin America, the number of people affected by misattributed paternity is deemed to be much higher, with up to 30%.
Until the arrival of genetic testing and modern medicine, paternity has always been uncertain. Nowadays, with the arrival of at-home DNA testing, genetic counselling and transplantation practices, the existing misattributed paternity is very likely to be revealed. A recent study by Lawton et al., 2023 found that 7% of those who used commercial DNA test kits to learn more about their ancestry discovered a different biological father to the one presumed.
So, what circumstances lead to misattributed paternity? A common misconception is that misattributed paternity is a result of an extramarital affair. While such circumstances can certainly lead to a child being raised by a father who is not related to them genetically, this is not the only path to misattributed paternity. Sexual exploration without committing to a relationship often leads to multiple parallel or consecutive sexual relationships - in these cases, it can be hard for a mother to know who fathered the child, especially if the timings and the menstrual cycle are not well-monitored. Misattributed paternity can also occur when a stable relationship is falling apart and new relationships are formed. Further, it can also result from sexual assault and prostitution (Avni et. al, 2023).
It is important to add that while misattributed paternity shares commonality with such socially accepted practices as adoption and donor-assisted reproduction, there are distinct differences between these groups. As very little is known about how being a person with misattributed paternity affects someone and their families, curiosity and open-mindedness should guide your exploration of this situation.
