Parents judge their children after artificial insemination by donor

Since the 70 years approximately 50 000 children have been born in the Federal Republic of Germany after artificial insemination by donor. The most studies of substantial collectives describe an inconspicious mental and emotional development of the children. However, due to examinations of special cases, negative effects on the development of the children are expected as a result: of: the behaviour of social fathers to keep the insemination secret and to turn away from them. In a follow-up study six years after the treatment of insemination 22 successful couples of parents of originally 57 couples (before insemination) could be reexamined. They rated their children by a detailed interview, as well as by a variant of the repertory grid technique, which permits an estimation of object relations. Under an idiographic aspect, the use of the repertory grid technique made it possible Co learn the individual meaning of the children to the respective couple. As a group examination it allowed generalizable statements to judge the children in relation to the self-image of the parents. The major part of the parents judged their children as "close" to their self and their self-ideal. Any indication of retreat by social fathers could not be given.