title: Microaggressions, Feelings of Difference, and Resilience Among Adopted Children with Sexual Minority Parents.
abstract: Limited research exists about the unique experiences and possible marginalization of children with sexual minority parents. From a larger longitudinal project of diverse adoptive families, we examined cross-sectional data using mixed methods from interviews with 49 adopted children (M age = 8 years; 47% female) in 27 two-father and 22 two-mother families. Using thematic analysis, we coded themes of awareness of difference, microaggressions, and resilience (i.e., coping and positive family conceptualizations). Children experienced "feeling different" and microaggressions from peers, but generally at a low to medium intensity and with neutral (not negative) emotion. More instances of resilience and positive family conceptualizations were reported than microaggressions or feelings of difference, suggesting that children develop positive perceptions of their family and navigate experiences of difference with resilience. Filling important gaps in the literature, we discuss implications of our results for practice and policy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky, 012-B Kastle Hall, 171 Funkhouser Drive, Lexington, KY, 40506-0044, USA. rachel.farr@uky.edu.
authors.forename: Rachel H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Farr
authors.affiliation: University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Emily E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Crain
authors.affiliation: University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, USA.
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Oakley
authors.affiliation: University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Krystal K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Cashen
authors.affiliation: University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Karin J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Garber
mesh_terms: D000300:Adoption; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006716:Homosexuality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008913:Minority Groups; D010290:Parents; D002666:Psychology, Child; D055500:Resilience, Psychological
keywords: Adoption; Children; Lesbian and gay parents; Microaggressions; Resilience