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Study Finds that Children Raised by Lesbian Parents Have Less Mental Illness

Posted in Anxiety by Julie Cohen on Jun 08, 2009

A recent study out of the University of Copenhagen finds that children raised by lesbian parents are less likely to suffer from mental illness than children raised by heterosexual parents. The study followed 387 children of lesbian parents from 1992 - 2008. The findings stated that only 2% of these children developed disorders such as anxiety and anorexia whereas children raised by heterosexual parents were at 5%.

What does all this mean? According to the Copenhagen Post, "The findings, according to Merete Lauberg, of the University Of Copenhagen Department Of Public Health, suggest that concerns that alternative families have a negative effect on child development are over." This is a huge step towards furthering equality and empowering lesbian and gay parents. It challenges and voids homophobic stereotypes that have oppressed gay and lesbian parents.

The study also states that possible reasons for the lower numbers may involve intent and strength gained from dealing with resistance. "One reason for the lower rate could be that their mothers have encountered more resistance in their lives than heterosexual parents have. ‘Resistance makes you stronger, and that could be passed on to their children,' Lauberg said.

Another reason, according to psychiatrist Per Hove Thomsen are the efforts the parents had to make to conceive the child.‘A lot of other parents have challenges having children, but children with lesbian mothers face particular challenges,' he said. ‘The women have had to make an extra effort to get pregnant, and that could have an effect on the child.'"

In the wake of a disappointing decision by the California Supreme Court to uphold proposition 8, this is a silver lining further validating the fight towards equality for all.

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CATEGORIES: News

CONDITIONS AND COMMUNITIES: Anxiety • Bipolar Disorder • Codependency • Coming Out • Depression • Families & Friends of Gays & Lesbians • Gay & Lesbian Teens • Gay Men's Challenges • Gay Parenting • Lesbian Relationship Challenges

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Displaying comments 15-1 of 35

wow after reading some of the other responses here I must say, why are you all such angry people? If everyone and all things were the same we would never have the opportunity to grow. Open your minds people. This is just results from one study done with a specific group of people. Take it for what it is, if you want more information than conduct a study yourselves or search for others. No need to bash this study just because it did not include gay men or anything else. It is what it is and a very interesting bit of information was obtained here. Hopefully this will spur further studies that will show further ignorance on the part of those who wish to condemn those who are different from themselves.

By desrtrse Jun 09, 2009

Isn't that amazing, children raised with love are better off. The christian definition of marriage had nothing to do with it all. hmm anyone else totally not surprised here?

By desrtrse Jun 09, 2009

there is a lot that could be said about the study, the numbers are to small for conclusions, they could be biased, there could be an agenda (numbers don't lie but liers number), what the numbers say is interpted by humans who have an tendency to make mistakes. The study says and basically means nothing in absolutes. To make the generalization that lesbians are better parents or raise better adjusted kids is just as absurb as saying they are worse parents or doomed to raise maladjusted kids. The best parents are not bond by skin color or race or religion or sexual orientation. To insinuate so either for or against someone(s) based on that is ridiculous and close minded. For sure the childeren of homosexual parents will face special challenges just like those of mixed race because there are those in society who are to closed minded to accept them...but then...girls and boys face special challenges unique to them as well. All one can say is, a good parent is one who cares and does the right thing for their childeren...becasue they love them.....that will produce the greatest odds for a weladjusted child.....not something defined by a study with or without bias or an agenda...thank God my parents taught us to love and accept everyone...not just those like us

By doalan Jun 09, 2009

Ultimately, this post has been put here to give food for though... it invites questions, it invites the sharing of knowledge and encourages further exploration. Its not a statement of certainty. It is impossible to know FOR SURE what effects anything on this planet has. There is no study big enough, nor funds great enough to ensure exact results.

Its not about who is right, who is wrong... who is anything... it just presents a possiblity... and what would be so wrong with that possibility? That children are safe? that is a great thing isnt it? I think so.

I think arguing the validity of research or tests are a little misplaced... this isnt about the validity of research and studies... its merely food for thought... we cant explore all topics associated with a single topic.. It is part of life, the continues line of questions that can never be fully answered.

Appreciate the food for thought, discuss the topic at hand... "how do you feel about lesbian parents?" "what has been your experience?" "Do you even know lesbian parents?" "what is your perspective?"

By fuschiarobe Jun 09, 2009

Answers to some questions presented previously.
1. Yes. The last sentence in the article does reveal some bias by the WRITER OF THE ARTICLE - not the researchers.
2. Only females were studied, because in a study such as this, the evaluators endeavor to remove as many variables as possible so that only one set of data is being measured.
3. Make sure that you differentiate between what the researchers said and the opinions of the journalists (Copenhagen Post, Julie Cohen)
4. Yes. This is only one study... in one country....by one set of researchers. In the article, the researchers list their hypotheses (educated guesses) regarding what, if anything, their data indicated.

Now.... MY OPINION: I think that everyone, Christian, atheist, white, black, heterosexual, homosexual, should have equal rights UNDER THE LAW. In the state where I live, it was illegal for a "white" person to marry a "non-white" person until 1967. I'm sure that plenty of people still think that this is "wrong". If a minister thinks that it is wrong for the races to mix, he/she is under no obligation legally to perform the ceremony. But a judge or other government magistrate must not deny them their constitutional rights.

This is just one reason why it is SO important to maintain separation of church and state. My minister just recently refused to marry a couple who had been living together unless they separated for a time. Legal for a justice of the peace? No way. Legal for my pastor. Yes, thank God, because we live in the United States.

By MJD Jun 09, 2009

One study in Copenhagen doesn't mean anything! Besides, what other factors might have been involved - like lack of abuse (yes, this awareness could be caused by the trials of growing up gay), income distribution (more educated about children's needs and facilitating them), group support from other gay parents (this is often missing in our modern society in so called "normal" homes). Genetics is another factor - it is not just environment that causes mental illness. I am not saying that gays are not capable of raising a child to normality. But as a bipolar person who raised 4 mentally healthy children, who are all happily married and have excellent jobs and personal skills, it is possible to raise healthy children in any circumstance. That doesn't make the gay lifestyle right!

By Angela53510 Jun 09, 2009

Anyone with a brain knows that any study can be made to come out in favor of a particular viewpoint or agenda, so this means absolutely nothing. I know several lesbian couples raising children and both the parents and kids seem to have the same or similar tensions and issues affecting the children as the heteros do.

By deanna2150 Jun 09, 2009

I really need to learn how to edit my posts. The end should have been: The goal of the study and the reporting should not show bias. Your last sentence, "In the wake of a disappointing decision by the California Supreme Court to uphold proposition 8, this is a silver lining further validating the fight towards equality for all." indicates you have a bias.

By EasyM Jun 09, 2009

I have participated in designing studies myself. (1) One study by itself means nothing if it can't be duplicated. (2) How was the potential bias of the test designers dealt with? (3) Different societies have different effects on children other than their parents. If you did a study on the "Hitler Youth" program in Germany during WWII, what do you think the response to genocide would be?

The goal of the study and the reporting should not show bias. "Your last sentence In the wake of a disappointing decision by the California Supreme Court to uphold proposition 8, this is a silver lining further validating the fight towards equality for all." indicates you have a bias.

By EasyM Jun 09, 2009

I am so delighted to read this! Some good friends of mine are a lesbian couple - one is a university professor and the other is a church minister. Both are extraordinarily bright, compassionate women. They have raised a son who is now a senior in college. This young man is extremely intelligent, has done well in college, is NOT gay (in case anybody was wondering) and is well-liked at both school and church.

I get so upset when I read posts by homophobes who don't think that gays or lesbians should be "allowed" to raise children! (I rather wish that homophobes wouldn't raise children either, but that's just me.)

By madbookworm Jun 09, 2009

sacred, i understand- i didn't think you were being homophobic! :-) you're right.. they should have studied gay men as well as gay women and used a better control.

By hlks Jun 09, 2009

just to make it clear I was not being homophobic - I simply just wanted to know why they did not also evaluate gay parents - it would have been interesting to know the results - why lesbians but not gays????

By sacred Jun 08, 2009

of course men cause mental illness ;-) but sacred has a good point... if one man ups the chances of mental illness.. what would two men do? i'm assuming the mental health has to do with the women being more sympathetic, caring, understanding, etc?

By hlks Jun 08, 2009

Interesting what i have heard was that kids being raised By Gay parents was that They suffer more from everything you just wrote. But you cant expect these comments being made by Homophobic organizations. And spreading Propaganda.

By jose85217 Jun 08, 2009

I wonder what results you would get if the studies were done on gay parents? Why did they not also evalute gay parents?

By sacred Jun 08, 2009

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