Parenthood Desire in Italian Homosexual Couples

Santona, Alessandra; Vecchi, Arianna; Gorla, Laura; Tognasso, Giacomo

doi:10.1177/0192513x21999691

Cited by 8 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 55 publications

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“…Regarding motives for parenthood, research findings in the Italian LG population are mixed. While some studies have indicated that lesbian women reported higher desires and intentions for parenthood than gay men [3,41,91,92], thus confirming the findings of the international literature [34,93], other Italian studies [49,92] did not find significant differences between lesbian women and gay men. In the present study, lesbian women reported significantly greater motives to not have children compared to gay men.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 77%

Romantic Attachment, Relationship Satisfaction, Internalized Sexual Stigma, and Motives for Parenthood in Italian Lesbian Women and Gay Men

Sommantico,

Lacatena,

Ramaglia

2023

IJERPH

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This study examines romantic attachment, internalized sexual stigma, relationship satisfaction, and motives for parenthood in a sample of 313 Italian lesbian women (47.9%) and gay men (52.1%) aged 18–71 years (M = 36.2; SD = 11.9) and in same-sex relationships. The following hypotheses were tested: that romantic attachment is positively correlated with internalized stigma and motives to not have children, while it is negatively correlated with relationship satisfaction; that relationship satisfaction is negatively correlated with internalized stigma and motives for parenthood; that internalized stigma is negatively correlated with motives for parenthood; and that relationship satisfaction mediates the relationships between romantic attachment and motives for parenthood and between internalized stigma and motives for parenthood. The results strongly support the hypotheses. Furthermore, the results indicate that the lesbian participants reported lower levels of avoidance and internalized stigma and higher levels of relationship satisfaction and motives to not have children, and the participants in civil unions reported lower levels of anxiety and internalized stigma and higher levels of relationship satisfaction and motives to not have children. Taken together, our findings contribute to the growing body of research on LG parenthood and may inform social policy and psychological support for LG individuals pursuing parenthood.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 77%

Romantic Attachment, Relationship Satisfaction, Internalized Sexual Stigma, and Motives for Parenthood in Italian Lesbian Women and Gay Men

Sommantico,

Lacatena,

Ramaglia

2023

IJERPH

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“…Heterosexual and LGB people report valuing parenthood equally, believing that the associated rewards justify the work and costs involved (Riskind & Patterson, 2010). Regardless of gender composition, couples with parenting desires report the same motivations for wanting to have children (Santona et al, 2021). These include feelings of happiness, affection, fulfilment, positive benefits for the entire family, and a wish to live symbolically through one's children after death.…”

Section: Part 2: Lgb People's Desires and Expectations For Parenthoodmentioning

confidence: 99%

Intergenerational Processes of Disadvantage in the Lives of Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Australians: From Relationships with Parents to Parenting Expectations

Campbell

Perales

2022

Family Dynamics Over the Life Course

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Australia remains a heteronormative society, with many of our social, legal, and moral structures still assuming and reinforcing heterosexuality as the default norm. The impacts of heteronormativity on the family lives of lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) Australians can be profound. In this chapter, we draw from the lifecourse principles of linked lives, trajectories and turning points to examine how family dynamics produce disadvantage in the lives of LGB Australians. We begin by documenting trajectories of satisfaction, closeness, and support in relationships between LGB children and their parents. We then test associations between the quality of the parent-child relationship and LGB people’s mental health and emotional wellbeing across the life course. Next, we turn our attention to LGB people’s desires and expectations to have children of their own, and test whether relationships with parents play a role in shaping these. Overall, we find evidence that family dynamics continue to be a source of disadvantage in the lives of some LGB Australians. On average, LGB people are less likely to report a positive relationship with their parents than heterosexual people, and negative relationships with parents appear to suppress desires for having children of one’s own. Further, gay men who desire to have children are significantly less likely to expect to fulfill those desires the more dissatisfied they are with their relationships with their parents. Our findings demonstrate how social structures have the power to shape our most important, personal relationships and, through these, our mental health and wellbeing.

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“…Gay men share similar reasons with their heterosexual counterparts for becoming, or not becoming, a father, such as a quest for life enrichment, expected positive changes from parenthood, continuity of the family line, and consideration of financial, emotional, and physical costs (Gato et al, 2020 ; Goldberg et al, 2012 ; Santona et al, 2022 ; van Houten et al, 2020 ). Even those who choose not to pursue parenthood may perceive having a child as desirable and valuable (Kranz et al, 2018 ; Shenkman, 2012 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Does Same-Sex Marriage Legalization Make Gay Men Want to Have Children? Findings from a Panel Study in Taiwan

et al. 2023

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Introduction This study capitalized on prospective legal change in Taiwan to capture changes in gay men’s desires and attitudes toward parenthood as a function of the legalization of same-sex marriage (SSM). Methods A panel of 731 gay men (mean age = 26.8 years ± 5.81) completed an online survey between 2019 and 2020, shortly before and 1½ years after the legalization of SSM, to report their parenting desire, marital status, and attitudes toward parenthood and marriage. Results This study found that fewer participants in the follow-up survey expressed a parenting desire (59.0% vs. 74.2%), and the perceived importance of parenthood dropped mildly (3.48 to 3.26, Cohen’s d = 0.269). Those who expressed a consistent parenting desire attached greater importance to SSM. The perceived importance of SSM was modestly and positively related to the perceived importance of having a child. Conclusion Although the decrease in parenting desire and its perceived importance may be attributable to a lack of access to family-building options (e.g., surrogacy and adoption) and the COVID-19 pandemic, our findings illustrate that parenthood might become a next step for some Taiwanese male same-sex couples who married or considered marriage. Policy Implications The study findings provide information for policymakers to gauge the possible number of sexual minority men who might want to have a child and consider resource allocation and deliberation on policy changes related to reproduction.

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Parenthood Desire in Italian Homosexual Couples

Cited by 8 publications

References 55 publications

Romantic Attachment, Relationship Satisfaction, Internalized Sexual Stigma, and Motives for Parenthood in Italian Lesbian Women and Gay Men

Romantic Attachment, Relationship Satisfaction, Internalized Sexual Stigma, and Motives for Parenthood in Italian Lesbian Women and Gay Men

Intergenerational Processes of Disadvantage in the Lives of Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Australians: From Relationships with Parents to Parenting Expectations

Does Same-Sex Marriage Legalization Make Gay Men Want to Have Children? Findings from a Panel Study in Taiwan

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