Abstract

CARNEIRO, Francis Anne; COSTA, Pedro Alexandre; PEREIRA, Henrique  and  LEAL, Isabel. The quality of parental living in three Portuguese homoparent families. Psic., Saúde & Doenças [online]. 2018, vol.19, n.1, pp.129-135. ISSN 1645-0086.  https://doi.org/10.15309/18psd190119.

International studies sustain that are the family processes and dynamics that determine child's psychosocial adjustment and not parents' sexual orientation/identity. According to the literature, no significant differences were found between adoptive same-gender and different-gender parented families on levels on parental stress levels or emotional closeness. In Portugal, research about lesbian/gay parented families is still scarce. The present study aimed at evaluating the family dynamics and social climate of lesbian mothers/gay fathers using a qualitative methodology through Thematic Analysis. Three adoptive same-gender parented families were interviewed using a semi-structured script. Three main themes were identified: Parental motivations and experiences during the adoption process; Non-recognition of one of the parental figures; and Parental experiences. The three families presented a strong motivation to accomplish a parental project. Nevertheless, the institutional stigma that these parents faced may have negatively influenced influence their well-being. The relationship quality and a strong parental involvement minimized the effects of the difficulties faced in favor of a strong desire to create a family with children.

Keywords : lesbian mothers; gay fathers; adoption; thematic analysis.

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