title: Dutch adolescents from lesbian-parent families: how do they compare to peers with heterosexual parents and what is the impact of homophobic stigmatization?
abstract: In this study, we compared internalizing and externalizing problem behavior of 67 Dutch adolescents (M(age) = 16.04) in planned lesbian families who were matched with 67 adolescents in heterosexual-parent families. We also examined whether homophobic stigmatization was associated with problem behavior in adolescents with lesbian mothers after taking into account demographic characteristics, mothers' scores on emotional involvement, and adolescents' earlier problem behavior (measured at age 4-8 years old). Standardized instruments measuring problem behavior were completed by parents and adolescent offspring, and questions about stigmatization were answered by adolescents with lesbian mothers. The results revealed no differences in internalizing and externalizing problem behavior associated with family type. Offspring in lesbian families who reported more experiences of homophobic stigmatization also demonstrated more internalizing and externalizing problem behavior.
authors: Research Institute of Child Development and Education, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors: Loes
authors: L
authors: van Rijn-van Gelderen
authors: Research Institute of Child Development and Education, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address: H.M.W.Bos@uva.nl.
authors: Henny M W
authors: HM
authors: Bos
authors: Research Institute of Child Development and Education, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Williams Institute, School of Law, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors: Nanette K
authors: NK
authors: Gartrell
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000941:ethics / Q000523:psychology*; D041923:Adolescent Development; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D018452:Homosexuality, Female / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D009034:Mother-Child Relations / Q000523:psychology*; D009426:Netherlands; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D000066553:Problem Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012938:Social Perception; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Adolescence; Lesbian families; Problem behavior; Stigmatization