Estimated Likelihood of Parenthood and its Association with Psychological Well-Being Among Sexual Minorities and Heterosexual Counterparts

Abstract

The aim of this study was to compare Israeli gay men and lesbians (GL) with their heterosexual counterparts in terms of their estimated likelihood of parenthood and to further assess the association between estimated likelihood of parenthood and psychological well-being as a function of sexual orientation. A total of 449 childless participants (202 self-reported as GL) ranging in age from 18 to 49 (M = 27.86, SD = 4.49) were recruited through convenience sampling between November 2017 and April 2018. They completed questionnaires assessing their estimated likelihood of parenthood, depressive symptoms, life satisfaction, and happiness. GL reported a lower estimated likelihood of parenthood than their heterosexual counterparts. Also, estimated likelihood of parenthood was associated with psychological well-being indicators, and this association was moderated by sexual orientation, such that stronger associations were evident between estimated likelihood of parenthood and fewer depressive symptoms, greater life satisfaction, and happiness among heterosexual men and women in comparison to GL. The findings are interpreted in light of GL possible awareness of discriminatory local policies concerning sexual minority rights in their quest to parenthood alongside pressure to have children that is greater for heterosexual couples than that faced by GL in the Israeli pronatal sociocultural environment. Policy makers should consider the disparities in estimated likelihood of parenthood between GL and heterosexual counterparts and their possible linkage to the discriminatory Israeli social policies regarding GL rights.