Children of same-sex couples healthier, says Australian study

Researchers from the University of Melbourne surveyed 315 same-sex parents with a total of 500 children. About 80% of the children have female parents, while 18% have male parents.

The children raised by same-sex partners scored an average of 6% higher than the general population on measures of general health and family cohesion. They were equivalent to those from the general population on measures of temperament and mood, behaviour, mental health and self-esteem.

The lead researcher, Simon Crouch, said same-sex couples are more likely to share childcare and work responsibilities more equitably than heterosexual parent families, based more on skills rather than gender roles.

“This appears to be contributing to a more harmonious household and having a positive impact on child health,” he said.

But about two-thirds of these children experience some form of stigma due to their parents’ sexual orientation, Crouch said.

“What we have found is that the more stigma these families experience the greater the impact on the social and emotional wellbeing of children.”

The most recent census counted 6,300 children living in same-sex-couple families.

(Courtesy of theGuardian.com)