Social Climate for Sexual Minorities Predicts Well-Being Among Heterosexual Offspring of Lesbian and Gay Parents

Social climate—specifically, the level of support for sexual minorities in a given locale—helps to explain well-being among lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals. No published reports have examined whether well-being also varies as a function of social climate for family members of LGB indivi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Sexuality research & social policy 2012-06, Vol.9 (2), p.99-112
Main Authors: Lick, David J., Tornello, Samantha L., Riskind, Rachel G., Schmidt, Karen M., Patterson, Charlotte J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Behavioral Science and Psychology
Bisexuality
Gays & lesbians
Heterosexuality
Homosexuality
Lesbianism
Minority Groups
Parents
Parents & parenting
Population Characteristics
Psychology
Sexual Behavior
Sexual Preferences
Social Sciences
Well Being
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Summary:Social climate—specifically, the level of support for sexual minorities in a given locale—helps to explain well-being among lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals. No published reports have examined whether well-being also varies as a function of social climate for family members of LGB individuals. We present results from two studies (Study 1, n  = 69; Study 2, n  = 70) demonstrating that social climate predicts well-being among adults reared by LGB parents, regardless of their own sexual orientation. Across both studies, population characteristics (e.g., density of same-sex couples in an area) emerged as the strongest and most consistent predictors of well-being. Some variables assessing local politics (e.g., LGB hate crime policy) also predicted well-being, though these associations were less robust. Overall, findings suggest that the social environment for sexual minorities is an important correlate of psychological adjustment for many Americans, regardless of their sexual orientation.
ISSN:1868-9884
1553-6610
DOI:10.1007/s13178-012-0081-6