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A new study reveals that children of gay parents develop the same or even better than children of heterosexual parents.
If the parenthood of sexual minorities is still debated in France and elsewhere in the world, this study, published on March 6 in the journal BMJ Global Health, is a true counterpoint to received ideas. It shows that children of same-sex parents do just as well, if not better, than other families.
Better outcomes in same-sex families
To reach this conclusion, the researchers looked at 34 studies published between 1989 and 2022 and carried out in countries where homosexuality is legal.
This work was then categorized into 11 main themes: children’s psychological adjustment, physical health, sex-role behavior, gender identity/sexual orientation and education level, parents’ mental health and parental stress, parent-child relationships, satisfaction relationship, family functioning and social support.
Of these 34 studies, 16 of them showed that on several themes – such as satisfaction with the couple relationship, mental health, parental stress or family functioning – the results were similar between the two types of families.
On the other hand, concerning the psychological adaptation of children, in particular in preschool age, and parent-child relationships, the results were better in homoparental families.
“Growing up with sexual minority parents can confer certain advantages on children. They have been described as more tolerant of diversity and more caring towards young children than children of heterosexual parents”, conclude the researchers.
“Controversial” research
Nevertheless, many experts believe that this study has certain limitations. The analysis would indeed have taken into account “controversial, even discredited research“.
In addition, the studies included relate to countries where same-sex relations are legalized, which obviously influences the climate in which children grow up.