Poster #102 - Stigma Experiences, Mental Health, and Parent-Child Relationships Among Lesbian, Gay, and Heterosexual Adoptive Parents

• In Event: 1-169 - Poster Session 04
  In Poster Session: PS 04 Section - Family Context & Processes

Integrative Statement

Adoptive parents often face stigma based on their “nontraditional” family structure (e.g., concerns on parenting ability; Miall, 1987). Lesbian and gay (LG) adoptive parents often face additional stigmatization based on their sexual identity and may internalize / endorse such beliefs (Goldberg, 2009). Research indicates that internalized adoption stigma and homophobia may have negative effects on parents’ mental health outcomes (Frost & Meyer, 2009). Despite controversy on LG parenting, research has shown that family processes (e.g., relationship dynamics) are most associated with parent and child outcomes, rather than family structure (Farr, 2017). Thus, family systems (Cox & Paley, 1997) and minority stress (Meyer, 2003) theories serve as conceptual frameworks for this study. Here, we examine adoptive and LG parents' experiences of stigma based on these identities, as well as associations with parents' mental health symptoms, parents’ feelings of competency in caring for their child, and parent-child relationships.

Data presented are from the second wave of data collection in a larger on-going longitudinal study on diverse adoptive families . Participants were recruited from five private adoption agencies across the US and all had completed domestic infant adoptions. Ninety-four families are represented (25 lesbian, 28 gay, 41 heterosexual parent families) in this study. On average, children were eight years old and more racially diverse than their parents—almost half were transracially adopted (children 46% White; parents 80% White). The following measures were administered online to all parents: Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI; Derogatis & Melisaratos, 1983), Feelings About Adoption Scale (FAAS;Goldberg, Kinkler, & Hines, 2011), and Who Does What? (WDW; Cowan & Cowan, 1990). The Homonegative Microagressions Scale (HMS; Wright & Wegner, 2012) was administered to LG parents only. Children (n = 90) completed the Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment (IPPA; Armsden & Greenberg, 1987).

Analyses from a one-way ANOVA revealed no significant differences by parental sexual orientation among variables except for Parenting Competence (lesbian mothers indicated higher confidence in parenting ability than heterosexual parents). Simple linear regressions on parent-level variables (Table 1) revealed that internalized adoption stigma and past experienced homophobia were significant predictors of parents’ mental health symptoms (e.g., as stigma increased, mental health symptoms increased). Parents’ mental health was also a significant predictor of their perceived childcare competency (e.g., as mental health symptoms increased, perceived competence decreased). Simple linear regressions on the child-level variable (e.g., IPPA Trust; Table 2) revealed that parents’ perceived childcare competency was a significant predictor of children’s trust toward their parents, however, parents’ mental health was not a significant predictor of children’s trust toward their parents.

Consistent with our conceptual framework our results demonstrate that although adoptive and LG families experience stigma, family processes, rather than structure are most predictive of individual outcomes. Researchers, policy-makers, practitioners, and adoption agencies should work together to employ practices affirming of these marginalized identities to reduce stigma and provide resources to support adoptive parents’ mental health. Future research should further explore how LG and adoptive parents perceive their parenting ability / competency and how it affects children’s trust in their parents.

Authors

• Cassandra P Vázquez, University of Kentucky
  Presenting Author

• Rachel H. Farr, University of Kentucky
  Non-Presenting Author