Quick Hit
Daily brief research updates from the cognitive sciences
This is not the first study to report that children of same-sex parents are well adjusted, there are plenty, but it is one of the first to be representative and hence gives some robust evidence that the sexual orientation of your parents is really not relevant for bringing up well-adjusted children.
This is good news.
How did the researchers conduct this study?
The researchers at the University of Cologne compared 62 six- to sixteen-year-olds with same-sex parents to 72 peers with different sex parents. They analysed:
-
- Prosocial behaviour
- Hyperactivity
- Peer problems
- Emotional adjustment
- General behavioural problems
Some people may assume that having different male and female role models is important but this, and other studies, have shown this is not the case (and family models vary greatly from one to another anyhow).
However, we also know that same-sex families have other stressors due to prejudice and legal hurdles, and this could be transferred to the children. Fortunately, this shows that this is not and providing children with safety, appreciation, and recognition, is critical in developing healthy well-adjusted children.
Something all parents should take note of same-sex or different-sex●
Andy Habermacher
Andy is author of leading brains Review, Neuroleadership, and multiple other books. He has been intensively involved in writing and research into neuroleadership and is considered one of Europe’s leading experts. He is also a well-known public speaker speaking on the brain and human behaviour.
Andy is also a masters athlete (middle distance running) and competes regularly at international competitions (and holds a few national records in his age category).
Reference
Deni Mazrekaj, Mirjam M. Fischer, Henny M. W. Bos.
Behavioral Outcomes of Children with Same-Sex Parents in The Netherlands.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2022; 19 (10): 5922
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19105922
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