title: [Being raised by lesbian parents or in a single-parent family is no risk factor for problem behavior, however being raised as an adopted child is].
abstract: Modern reproductive techniques and alternative family structures (with single or homosexual parents and adoption situations) raise questions about the consequences for the growing children involved. Genetic links appear to be less important for the functioning of a family than a strong wish for parenthood; parents who have become parents only through great efforts display a better quality of parenthood than average natural parents. Characteristics of the parent/parents, such as paedagogic qualities, and the quality of the parent-child relationship appear more important than the type of family. Published results of research reveal no reason why lesbian families should be judged differently from heterosexual ones as family types for the raising of children. The main negative factor for the functioning of the child growing up in a single-parent family is the marriage conflicts that have led to the single-parent situation; being raised by a single parent in itself has no adverse effect. Raising adopted children from other countries makes far greater demands on the adoptive parents than parents of biological children have to meet. The raising of a foreign adopted child by a single parent entails additional risks for the child's development. Data on the development of children in alternative family structures frequently concern exceptionally competent parents, which may have biased the findings.
authors.affiliation: Academisch Zickenhuis Rotterdam-Sophia Kinderzickenhuis, afd., Kinder- en Jeugdpsychiatrie, Rotterdam.
authors.forename: F C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Verhulst
authors.forename: H O
authors.initials: HO
authors.lastname: Versluis-den Bieman
authors.forename: N C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Balmus
mesh_terms: D000300:Adoption; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D002657:Child Development; D002668:Child Rearing; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D018452:Homosexuality, Female; D006801:Humans; D015406:Single Parent