Study Shows Children of Same-Sex Parents Still Doing Fine

A major academic study from Australia has shown that the children of same-sex attracted parents are doing as well as, if not better than, their peers in the general population on several key measures of health and well-being.

Researchers conducting the Australian Study of Child Health in Same-Sex Families, who released preliminary findings a year ago, have now published a paper confirming that “there is no evidence to support a difference in parent-reported child health for most measures in these families.”

With over 300 parents raising almost 500 children in the sample, this is the world’s largest study of families with same-sex attracted parents. Unlike most previous such studies, which have focused on two-mom households, 91 of the children here had male parents. This “allows for the first time a sample size large enough to enable analysis of child health and wellbeing” among children growing up with at least one gay male parent. (Five of the children also had “other gendered” parents; not enough to draw conclusions, but an indication that there is still more work to be done.) Most of the parents identified as lesbian (69 percent), with gay men coming in second (18 percent), and the rest identifying as bisexual, queer, heterosexual, or other. One percent were transgender.

The study looked at parent-reported responses to questions about their children’s health and wellbeing, including perceived stigma. Based on their answers, the researchers found that children with same-sex attracted parents scored higher by a statistically significant amount in general behavior, general health, and family cohesion. In other areas, such as emotional behavior, there were no significant differences.

The researchers warn, however, that the difference in general behavior may be because of some differences in the survey of same-sex attracted parents and the comparative survey of the general population. They suggest further research is necessary here.

When it comes to the difference in family cohesion, however, they say the results are indeed “significant,” and may have to do with a more equitable, gender-fair division of household roles:

Previous research has suggested that same-sex attracted parents are much more likely to share household duties equally when compared to their heterosexual counterparts, and they make decisions about work/family balance based more on circumstance than preconceived gender-based ideals. Individual suitability rather than societal convention is more likely therefore to inform parenting roles. This has the potential to engender greater family harmony in the long-term.

The size of the difference in general health is also “notable,” and may possibly be related to the improved communication that comes from greater family cohesion. They suggest further qualitative investigation in this area.

Unfortunately, but not surprisingly, parents of two thirds of the children reported perceived stigma based on the parents’ sexual orientation. The stigma was associated with poorer scores in physical activity, mental health, family cohesion and emotional symptoms. “Future work,” the researchers say, “should further explore the ways in which stigma affects the mental health of children with same-sex attracted parents and in particular ways in which these children can be protected from experiences of discrimination.”

The authors note some limitations of their study. In particular, it was a convenience sample of volunteer participants, rather than a fully representative sample across the population. Nevertheless, the researchers made efforts to contact parents “who both identified with the gay and lesbian community, and those who were less engaged.” The participants also had an education and income above the median for the population as a whole, although the researchers tried to control for this in their statistical analysis. Finally, children’s information in this study is parent reported. They’re comparing it to parent-reported information from different-sex attracted parents, so that’s okay — but I hesitate to draw sweeping conclusions like “our children are happier and healthier” than those in other families (as I’ve seen in some reporting of this study) when the study hasn’t actually asked the kids about their own health and happiness. (Not only that, but our kids scored higher on very specific psychological measures, so we shouldn’t draw conclusions across the board.)

Once again, though, I find myself cautioning: Let’s not use these results to proclaim that LGBTQ parents are “better” than others. We may be different; we may have a few areas in which we tend to have strengths — but this isn’t a game of “who’s better.” I’m very happy with “as good as.” Feeling like we’re better leads either to acting superior or to putting pressure on ourselves or our children to live up to an unreasonable standard. Neither is good for our families and our relationships to our broader communities.

Nevertheless, studies like this are vital. I commend the authors for adding to the existing research that has shown our children are on the whole doing as well as any others, and for making efforts to include the full sweep of the LGBTQ community in their work (although much more remains to be done). Their conclusions can help advance our equality on the political front, and assist health care professionals and others in relating to our families effectively in other arenas as well. Lastly, they can give us LGBTQ people who want to raise children the self-confidence we need to pursue our goal.