Psychosocial Well-Being in Children of Same-Sex Parents

A Longitudinal Analysis of Familial Transitions

Bibliographic Data

ID2347646
AuthorsDaniel Potter (0000-0002-9855-0355, American Institutes for Research, Washington, DC, USA, corresponding author), Emma C Potter (0000-0002-7844-0538, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA)
Year2017
Volume38
Issue16
Pages2303-2328
Publication date2017-11-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Family Issues (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0192-513X • E-ISSN: 1552-5481
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/0192513x16646338
OpenAlexW2345841919
LanguageEN
Citations received6
References cited65

Families in the United States are increasingly diverse, which has given rise to questions about the consequences these new family forms have for children's outcomes. This study uses a life course perspective to examine the association between family transitions, nontraditional family structures (with particular attention to same-sex parent families), and children's psychosocial well-being. The Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Kindergarten cohort was used to examine children's externalizing well-being, internalizing well-being, and interpersonal skills. Results indicate that nontraditional family structures are associated with poorer psychosocial well-being, but this is largely accounted for by changes and transitions experienced in the creation of new families. The findings provide a critical look at the assumptions embedded in arguments focused solely on family structure, and joins other research in calling attention to the importance of family processes for understanding the well-being of children

Cohort · Developmental psychology · Interpersonal communication · Life course approach · Longitudinal study · Psychosocial · Psychotherapist · Well-being · Family Dynamics and Relationships · Intergenerational Family Dynamics and Caregiving · Medicine · Psychology · Reproductive Health and Technologies · Social Psychology