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Author ORCID Identifier

https://orcid.org/0009-0003-1695-8782

Date Available

5-9-2024

Year of Publication

2024

Document Type

Master's Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

College

Arts and Sciences

Department/School/Program

Psychology

Faculty

Dr. Rachel H. Farr

Faculty

Dr. Mike Bardo

Abstract

While LGBTQ+ parented families are largely the same as their cis-het parent counterparts, they still experience unique factors exclusive to them. One such factor is access to the LGBTQ+ community. While research has emphasized the importance of community within the family system, the role the LGBTQ+ community can play for LGBTQ+ parented families is largely unexplored. Additionally, LGBTQ+ research examining parents of adolescents is similarly lacking. Utilizing a sample of LGBTQ+ parents with adolescent children, and informed by ecological systems theory, self-determination theory, and the parenting stress model, I examine the influence parent’s sense of LGBTQ+ community has on the relationship between parenting stress, parent mental health, and child adjustment. Regression analyses demonstrated a series of positive associations between LGBTQ+ parent stress, parent mental health, and child adjustment. However, sense of community failed to moderate these associations. Unique differences were found across geographic region when looking at LGBTQ+ parent mental health. Implications for policy, clinical practice, and future research are discussed.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.13023/etd.2024.111

Funding Information

This study was supported by the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues Susan Dudley Early Career Award.

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