Psychology Homosexual couples are not bad parents

Family shape is not crucial for the child's well-being
More and more children grow up in a so-called "rainbow family" with same-sex parents. But the new family form continues to be controversial, especially because critics fear children's developmental problems. A new study now shows that it makes no difference to the development of the offspring, whether the parents live as a homosexual or heterosexual couple. Rather, therefore, the relationship between the parents and children is crucial.

Critics fear difficult development opportunities
Father, father, child: Not everyone is easy with the life model of the so-called "rainbow family". Again and again one hears the argument that children who grow up with two same-sex partners have no "ideal" development opportunities. Only in a classical family with mother and father could a child fully develop according to the critics. But a recent study refutes this assumption, reports the psychologist Tabitha Freeman from the Center for Family Research at the University of Cambridge in an interview with ZEIT.

According to a new study, children's development makes no difference whether their parents are homosexual or heterosexual. (Image: WavebreakmediaMicro / fotolia.com)

Relationship with the parents is usually good
This shows that children of same-sex couples in their development do not differ from others, so the expert according to "TIME Online". According to the expert in the field of new forms of life, how a child develops is not determined by the family structure, but depends on the relationship with the parents.

The relationship is usually good in the rainbow families and children who have come into the world by artificial insemination, even studies had slight advantages over "traditionally begotten" peers, the psychologist said. This could be due to the fact that they were particularly "desired".

No differences to heterosexual parents
The development in children of same-sex couples is no different, they are neither socially nor psychologically conspicuous. "There are no differences. Homosexuals are not worse parents than heterosexuals, "says Tabitha Freeman. According to the expert, the children in new family forms are "mentally stable, develop normal at school, have friendships".

Stigmatization can be problematic for children
The frequent assumption that children of homosexual parents themselves become gay or lesbian is also contradictory. Instead, the study showed that the boys behave "no less boyish and the girls no less girly when they grow up with same-sex parents".

However, it can be difficult for the children of rainbow families to become stigmatized "actually or emotionally". But generally, the acceptance of artificial insemination and same-sex couples with children has increased a lot, says Freeman. (No)