Community Characteristics, Victimization, and Psychological Adjustment Among School-Aged Adopted Children With Lesbian, Gay, and Heterosexual Parents

Summary

This study examined victimisation and psychological adjustment among school-aged adopted children across lesbian, gay, and heterosexual parent households, with particular attention to school and community contextual factors. Findings indicated that 47% of parents reported child victimisation in the past year with no overall differences by family type, but significant interactions emerged between family type and urbanicity: children with same-sex parents in large urban areas experienced less victimisation and fewer internalising symptoms than peers with heterosexual parents, whilst the reverse pattern was observed in rural regions. School climate was inversely associated with victimisation prevalence, and same-sex parents were notably more likely to engage school administrators and other parties in response to victimisation incidents.

UK applicability

Findings may be partially relevant to UK contexts, though the observed urbanicity interactions may reflect differences in social attitudes and support infrastructure between United States regions that may not directly parallel UK geography or demographics. UK practitioners and policymakers might consider whether similar patterns exist in British urban versus rural contexts, and whether the more proactive engagement strategies employed by same-sex parents in this study offer insights for safeguarding protocols.

Key measures

Parent-reported child victimisation prevalence; parent-reported child internalising and externalising symptoms; school climate assessment; community urbanicity and political composition; family type categorisation

Outcomes reported

The study measured parent-reported child victimisation experiences over the past year and child psychological adjustment (internalising and externalising symptoms) across family types (same-sex and opposite-sex parents). It also examined how school climate and community urbanicity predicted victimisation risk and child mental health outcomes.

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