Developmental Outcomes in Children of Gay Father Families: A Systematic Review

The developmental outcomes of children in gay father families have been subjected to critics and concerns by society and politics. Although research assessing this family structure is still at its beginnings, preliminary evidence indicates how these children’s developmental outcomes are at the same level as those of heterosexual parent families and lesbian mother families. This systematic review aims to present the developmental outcomes among adopted children or children born through surrogacy raised by gay fathers. Secondly, it will provide an update of published studies regarding gay father families and their children’s outcomes while also providing insight into the gaps research will need to address. 1120 records were screened, resulting in 16 studies included into this review. These studies assessed the psychological adjustment, gender development, the parent-child interaction, the attachment relationships, the academic achievements, and perceived stigmatizations and microaggressions in children of gay fathers. Results indicated that children raised in gay father families showed equal and, in some cases, even better developmental outcomes compared to children of heterosexual or lesbian parents.