Parenting Stress Among Sexual Minority Parents: Gender, Race, Custody Status, Timing of Coming Out, and Level of Outness

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Martin, A. (2016). Parenting Stress Among Sexual Minority Parents: Gender, Race, Custody Status, Timing of Coming Out, and Level of Outness. Unc Charlotte Electronic Theses And Dissertations.
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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between parenting stress among sexual minority parents and their gender, race, legal custody status, timing of coming out relative to becoming a parent, and level of outness. A total of 833 sexual minority parents were included in this internet survey research study. A snowball sample was recruited through LGBTQ-friendly organizations, social media, gay pride events, and personal networks. Participants completed an anonymous internet survey which included the Parental Stress Scale, the Outness Inventory, and a demographic questionnaire. A 3-step hierarchical regression was conducted to analyze the data. Sexual minority parents’ gender accounted for 1% of the variance in their parenting stress. Legal custody status and timing of coming out did not add significant variance after controlling for gender and race. Level of outness added 1% of unique variance in parenting stress after controlling for gender, race, custody status, and timing of coming out. Continued study is warranted regarding the explanatory influence of gender and outness on parenting stress, as the relatively small effects found in this study may be amplified in a sample with more fathers represented and with greater variability in level of outness. It is imperative to further professional understanding of adaptive processes for sexual minority parents, such as outness, that can improve their parenting experiences in a heterosexually dominated culture.

Details
Author

Martin, Ann

Title

Parenting Stress Among Sexual Minority Parents: Gender, Race, Custody Status, Timing of Coming Out, and Level of Outness

Physical Description

1 online resource (141 pages) : PDF

Date

2016

Degree Granting Institution

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between parenting stress among sexual minority parents and their gender, race, legal custody status, timing of coming out relative to becoming a parent, and level of outness. A total of 833 sexual minority parents were included in this internet survey research study. A snowball sample was recruited through LGBTQ-friendly organizations, social media, gay pride events, and personal networks. Participants completed an anonymous internet survey which included the Parental Stress Scale, the Outness Inventory, and a demographic questionnaire. A 3-step hierarchical regression was conducted to analyze the data. Sexual minority parents’ gender accounted for 1% of the variance in their parenting stress. Legal custody status and timing of coming out did not add significant variance after controlling for gender and race. Level of outness added 1% of unique variance in parenting stress after controlling for gender, race, custody status, and timing of coming out. Continued study is warranted regarding the explanatory influence of gender and outness on parenting stress, as the relatively small effects found in this study may be amplified in a sample with more fathers represented and with greater variability in level of outness. It is imperative to further professional understanding of adaptive processes for sexual minority parents, such as outness, that can improve their parenting experiences in a heterosexually dominated culture.

Genre

doctoral dissertations

Subjects--Topics

Counseling psychology
Queer studies
Families--Study and teaching

Degree

Ph.D.

Subject Area

Counseling

Advisor(s)

Post, Phyllis

Committee Members

Harris, Henry
Abrams, Lyndon
Flowers, Claudia
Leland, Suzanne

Degree Note

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 2016.

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Rights Holder Information

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Identifier

Martin_uncc_0694D_11241

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.13093/etd:1084