Child adjustment in adoptive gay father families: a follow-up at early adolescence

• In Event: 1-084 - Modern fathers and their children

Integrative Statement

In the UK, approximately 20,000 children reside in same-sex parent families (Fairbairn, 2016). Adoption is an increasingly popular route to parenthood and same-sex couples are at least four times as likely to adopt as heterosexual couples (Gates, 2013). A large body of research shows no differences in child adjustment between lesbian and heterosexual parent families (Fedewa, Black, & Ahn, 2014). However, the circumstances of gay father families are somewhat different, as it is rare for fathers to be primary caregivers. The present study is the second phase of the UK Longitudinal study of Adoptive Gay Father Families (Golombok et al., 2014). Phase 1 compared gay, lesbian and heterosexual parent families with an adopted child aged 3-9 years. Gay fathers displayed more positive parenting and parental psychological wellbeing than heterosexual parents. Children of heterosexual parents showed the highest levels of behavioural problems. The current study aims to investigate the psychological wellbeing of children in adoptive gay father families in early adolescence, and to identify factors which predict the adjustment of adopted children raised by gay, lesbian and heterosexual parents.

Hypotheses
Given the positive findings regarding gay father families at phase 1, it was hypothesised that child adjustment would not be contingent on family type. It was also hypothesised that parent-child relationships would be more strongly associated with child adjustment than family type. It was also expected that stigma and perceived heterosexism would be associated with greater adjustment difficulties.

Study Population
The sample comprised 33 gay, 36 lesbian and 43 heterosexual parent families with an adopted child aged 10-14 years.

Methods
Parenting quality was assessed using a standardised interview (Quinton & Rutter, 1988) administered to parents, and a 5-minute observational task in which parent-child dyads worked together to plan a holiday (Grotevant & Cooper, 1985). Child adjustment was assessed during the parent interview: parents were asked for detailed descriptions of their child’s adjustment difficulties, which were rated by a child psychiatrist. Child adjustment was also assessed using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (Goodman, 1997) which was administered to the child, both parents and the child’s teacher. Questionnaires measuring stigma and perceived heterosexism were administered to both parents and the child (Goldberg & Smith, 2014; Vyncke, Julien, Jodoin, & Jouvin, 2011).

Results
No differences in child adjustment were found between children in gay, lesbian and heterosexual parent families. For the remainder of the analyses data from all family types were combined. Negative parenting at phase 1 was associated with greater adjustment problems at phase 2 (as reported by both parents, the child and the child’s teacher). Positive parenting at phase 2 was associated with lower levels of behavioural problems (as reported by both parents and the child). At phase 2, children who perceived more heterosexism also displayed greater adjustment problems.

Implications
The findings of the current study have important implications for adoption policy and legislation. Given the number of children waiting to be adopted and the scarcity of suitable adoptive parents, research on this new family form is especially valuable.

Authors

• Anja McConnachie, Centre for Family Research, University of Cambridge
  Presenting Author

• Nadia Ayed, Centre for Family Research, University of Cambridge
  Non-Presenting Author

• Vasanti Jadva, Centre for Family Research, University of Cambridge
  Non-Presenting Author

• Michael Lamb, University of Cambridge
  Non-Presenting Author

• Fiona Tasker, Birkbeck, University of London
  Non-Presenting Author

• Susan Golombok, Centre for Family Research, University of Cambridge
  Non-Presenting Author