Date of Award

8-2005

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Art

First Advisor

John Beckenbach

Second Advisor

Pam Nickels

Third Advisor

Shawn Patrick

Abstract

Parents who identify as gay or lesbian often face discrimination from the majority population based their sexual orientation. Additionally, gay and lesbian parents may be subject to discrimination from the single-gay and lesbian community for their parental status. However, families of this type continue to grow in number and seem to fare well in the face this adversity. Research to date has not explored the resources that gay and lesbian parents rely on in order to rise above intolerance and promote healthy development of the family. Due to the abundance of literature emphasizing the importance of social support to measures of well-being, it was hypothesized that gay and . lesbian families have strong support systems that act as a buffer towards society's opposition and promote well-being.

Seventy-one participants were recruited through Internet contacts with gay and lesbian parenting/social support groups to complete surveys measuring perceived social support and well-being. The participants consisted of gay men or lesbians who had a minimum of one child under the age of 18 living in their household at least partially. Participants completed the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) and the Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire Short Form (Q-LES-QSF). A correlation revealed that social support is related to well-being among this sample (r= .44, p< .O I). Additionally, parents were questioned about the sources of social support. It was found that support from family of choice is more strongly correlated to levels of well-being (r=.50, p< .01) than is support from family of origin (r=.29, p< .01). Among gay and lesbian parents in this sample, perceived social support was important to levels of well-being. Support from family of choice was a stronger indicator of levels of well-being than was support from family of origin.

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