World’s largest study on gay parents finds the kids are more than all right

[alp227]

According to the report, the children of gay parents are doing equally well or better than the national average
By Katie Mcdonough



According to preliminary findings from the world’s largest study on the issue, the children of gay parents are doing equally well or better than the children of straight parents on a number of key health and well-being indicators. (Not that it’s a competition or anything!)

Researchers at Melbourne University in Australia collected data on 500 children across the country and found that kids growing up in gay and straight families matched pretty equally when it came to self-esteem, emotional well-being and the amount of time they spent with parents; but when it came to overall health and family cohesion, the children of gay parents did even better than the national average.

Lead researcher Dr Simon Crouch attributed the findings to gay families fostering open communication as they endure challenges together, which helps children become more resilient. “Because of the situation that same-sex families find themselves in, they are generally more willing to communicate and approach the issues that any child may face at school, like teasing or bullying,” he said.

source: http://www.salon.com/2013/06/05/worlds_largest_study_on_gay_parents_finds_the_kids_are_more_than_all_right/

See also The Age article "Tick for same-sex families":

The Australian Study of Child Health in Same-Sex Families collected data on 500 children nationwide, up to the age of 17.

Of the 315 gay, lesbian and bisexual parents who completed the globally recognised Child Health Questionnaire, 80 per cent were women.
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An interim report found there was no statistical difference between children of same-sex couples and the rest of the population on indicators including self-esteem, emotional behaviour and the amount of time spent with parents.

However, children of same-sex couples scored higher than the national average for overall health and family cohesion, measuring how well the family members get along.

Former prime minister Kevin Rudd said the wellbeing of children had been ''the sole remaining obstacle'' to him supporting same-sex marriage, which he announced in a blog post last month.

found this via TNCRM: http://thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/breaking-largest-study-of-children-raised-by-same-sex-parents-shows-theyre-healthier-than-their-peers/politics/2013/06/05/68146

[marshall]

1. I would like to see a more gender balanced study

Surely they can do better than 80% women.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

2. probably not. there are more lesbian women with children than gay men with children

for a vast number of reasons but mostly that women tend to come out later, more bisexual women who have children from previous heterosexual relationships and female couples adopt more often (This last point is anecdotal)

[defacto7]

3. This is surely the fact in my family.

My lesbian sister raised from birth a wonderful young man who has worked for some years in the Peace Corp. I'm quite proud of what he has become. He stand for the best things humanity has to offer.

[XemaSab]

4. Gay people have to really want kids in the first place

Straight people... notsomuch.