When it comes to kids who are raised in stable families, there's really no difference between same-sex versus different-sex parents, according to a new study. Scientists have found that what matters isn't the sex of the parents, but rather the upbringing by the parents.
In this latest study, the researchers looked at 95 female same-sex parent households and 95 different-sex parent households. These households were matched for parent and child characteristics. Male same-sex households weren't used simply due to the fact that a very small number of households met the necessary criteria.
More specifically, the researchers focused on households with no history of family instability, discontinuity or transitions. It was also limited to parents who had raised their children since birth without divorce, separation or adoption. This allowed the researchers to minimize the impact of family disruption.
So what did they find? It turns out that there were no differences between the two groups in terms of spouse or partner relationships or parent-child relationships.
"Our study of households with no divorces or other family transitions finds that spouse-partner and parent-child relationships are similar regardless of family structure," said Henry Bos and Nanette Gartrell, the lead researchers of the new study from the University of Amsterdam. "These strong relationships are important contributors to good child outcomes-not whether the parents are same-sex or different-sex."
The findings reveal that when it comes to children raised by same-sex parents, there is little different from those who are raised by different-sex parents. Not only that, but the new findings reveal that when it comes to families, instability is more likely to impact a child's life than whether or not their parents happen to be same-sex or different-sex.
"The study corroborates the 'no differences' conclusions that have been reached by at least 73 other scholarly articles," said Nathaniel Frank, one of the researchers. "The scientific debate over the politics of gay parenting is over, and equal treatment has one."
The findings are important when it comes to examining the differences between same-sex and different-sex parenting. In this case, it seems as if there really is no difference, and that all good parenting is just that - good parenting.
The findings are published in the April 2016 Journal of Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics.
