ORIGINAL ARTICLES   

Minerva Pediatrica 2005 April;57(2):73-82

Copyright © 2005 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: Italian

Children of homoparental families: psychological and sexual development

Roccella M.

Aim. In the last few years some studies have been made about homosexual parenthood and especially if this interferes with the child's development, identity and future sexual tendency. These studies prove that the parents' homosexuality does not seem to compromise the child's psychosexual development and that the child's possible homosexuality does not depend on the parents' sexual behaviour but on different factors linked to the relationship; as a matter of fact there are no relevant differences in the occurrence of homosexuality in children born from homosexual and hereosexual parents. The present study investigated the psychological and sexual development in a group of children of homoparental family.
Methods. The sample observed included 37 children, 22 male and 15 female. The following psychodiagnostic tests were used for assessment: spontaneous drawing, draw-a-person test, family drawing, blacky pictures test. The developmental of the child's sexual identity was determined through the preferences and fantasies he/she showed while playing, in the relationship with his/her mates, in the way of dressing. We used interviews with the child and the parents.
Results. All the children showed a good adherence to their sexual role. The observations and interviews proved that the children's disorders are not linked to the parents' homosexuality.
Conclusion. Being brought up by homosexual parents does not seem to compromise the child's future sexual tendency. However, in these children the sexual preference could change in adult life, being influenced by future situations and circumstances.