LGBTQ-Parent Families and Health

Abstract

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) people report worse physical and mental health than their heterosexual peers. We review the literature on physical and mental health outcomes among parents and children in LGBTQ-parent families through a family resilience framework. In doing so, we describe research on mechanisms of vulnerability and resilience in families. We found few studies specifically focused on LGBTQ parents and physical health outcomes. Experiences of stigma and peer victimization among LGBTQ parents and children are stressful and associated with psychological distress. However, stressful experiences do not appear to result in significant mental health disparities between children of same-sex and children of different-sex parents. Instability and the ability to mitigate instability appear to be more strongly related to mental health outcomes than family status, parent gender, and family formation method. Clinicians can help mitigate potential negative mental and physical health outcomes by identifying and providing support to families for coping with stress related to stigma, discrimination, and family transitions. School policies and personnel can do more to intervene in bullying based on family status. Additional research on health outcomes, particularly physical health, is needed, including among LGBTQ-parent families of color, bisexual and transgender parent families, and second-generation LGBTQ youth. Overall, there is more to learn about how best to support the health and well-being of these often marginalized families.