Parenting, dyadic coping, and child emotion regulation in lesbian, gay, and heterosexual parent families through assisted reproduction

Abstract

ABSTRACT Aims The present study examined the associations between family structure, parenting, and dyadic coping and children’s emotion regulation in lesbian, gay, and heterosexual parent families through assisted reproduction. It also explored differences in parenting dimensions and dyadic coping, based on parents’ sexual orientation. Methods Participants were 60 lesbian mothers through donor insemination, 50 gay fathers through surrogacy, and 42 heterosexual parents through gamete donation, all with a child aged 6–12 years (M = 8.67; SD = 2.16; 48.68% females) and residing in Italy. In each family, both parents reported parenting stress, parent – child relational self-efficacy, parental control, dyadic coping, and their perception of the child’s emotion regulation. Results Mixed models indicated no significant differences between family types in parenting stress and use of a controlling parenting style. However, lesbian mothers reported higher parent – child relational self-efficacy than heterosexual parents, and higher dyadic coping strategies than gay fathers. Also, children of gay fathers showed greater emotion regulation than children of heterosexual parents. Across family types, higher levels of parenting stress and dyadic coping, and lower levels of parent – child relational self-efficacy were associated with lower child emotion regulation. Conclusion Given that in middle childhood, across family types, better emotional regulation was associated with lower parenting stress and dyadic coping, and greater effectiveness in the parent – child relationship clinical work should focus on the parent’s and couple’s ability to cooperatively manage stressors while maintaining a balanced focus on their children’s resources and autonomy.