Lesbian and bisexual mothers and nonmothers: demographics and the coming-out process.

In a large, national sample of 2,431 lesbians and bisexual women, those who had children before coming out, those who had children after coming out, and those who did not have children were compared on demographic factors and milestones in the coming-out process. Differences were found in race/ethnicity, age, prior marriage, income, religion, use of mental health counseling, and reported hate crimes. Results are also presented for lesbians and bisexual women of each ethnic/racial and age group. Controlling for age and income, lesbians and bisexual women who had children before coming out had reached developmental milestones in the coming-out process about 7-12 years later than women who had children after coming out and about 6-8 years later than nonmothers.

[1]  E. Rothblum,et al.  Lesbians and Their Sisters as a Control Group: Demographic and Mental Health Factors , 2001, Psychological science.

[2]  N. Gartrell,et al.  The National Lesbian Family Study: 3. Interviews with mothers of five-year-olds. , 2000, The American journal of orthopsychiatry.

[3]  C. Patterson,et al.  Lesbian, gay and bisexual identities in families: Psychological perspectives , 2000, Lesbian & Gay Psychology Review.

[4]  E. Rothblum,et al.  Who Fills out A “Lesbian” Questionnaire? , 1999 .

[5]  N. Gartrell,et al.  The National Lesbian Family Study: 2. Interviews with mothers of toddlers. , 1999, The American journal of orthopsychiatry.

[6]  M. Gabriel,et al.  Utilization of psychotherapy by lesbians, gay men, and bisexuals: findings from a nationwide survey. , 1999, The American journal of orthopsychiatry.

[7]  Samantha P. Williams.  Growing Up in a Lesbian Family: Effects on Child Development. , 1999 .

[8]  Gillian A. Dunne.  Living "Difference": Lesbian Perspectives on Work and Family Life , 1998 .

[9]  C. Patterson,et al.  Families of the lesbian baby boom: children's contact with grandparents and other adults. , 1998, The American journal of orthopsychiatry.

[10]  C. A. Parks,et al.  Lesbian parenthood: a review of the literature. , 1998, The American journal of orthopsychiatry.

[11]  J. Krestan.  Lesbians and Gays in Couples and Families: A Handbook for Therapists , 1997 .

[12]  J. Laird,et al.  Lesbians and gays in couples and families : a handbook for therapists , 1997 .

[13]  M. Allen,et al.  Comparing the impact of homosexual and heterosexual parents on children: meta-analysis of existing research. , 1997, Journal of homosexuality.

[14]  N. Gartrell,et al.  The national lesbian family study: 1. interviews with prospective mothers. , 1996, The American journal of orthopsychiatry.

[15]  J. Bradford,et al.  National Lesbian Health Care Survey: implications for mental health care. , 1994, Journal of consulting and clinical psychology.

[16]  C. Griffin,et al.  Odd Girls and Twilight Lovers: A History of Lesbian Life in Twentieth-Century America@@@What a Lesbian Looks like: Writings by Lesbians on Their Lives and Lifestyles , 1994 .

[17]  J. Laird.  From the editor: Lesbians and Lesbian families: Multiple reflections , 1993 .

[18]  M. Eliason,et al.  The role of psychotherapy in Caucasian lesbians' lives , 1993 .

[19]  C. Patterson,et al.  Children of Lesbian and Gay Parents , 1992, Child development.

[20]  Carol A. Thompson.  Lesbian Grief and Loss Issues in the Coming Out Process , 1992 .

[21]  Leslie A. Koepke.  Relationship Quality in a Sample of Lesbian Couples with Children and Child-Free Lesbian Couples. , 1992 .

[22]  K. Morgan.  Caucasian Lesbians' Use of Psychotherapy: A Matter of Attitude? , 1992 .

[23]  Patricia J. Falk,et al.  Lesbian mothers: Psychosocial assumptions in family law. , 1989 .

[24]  E. Rothblum,et al.  A model of predictors and outcomes of outness among lesbian and bisexual women. , 2001, The American journal of orthopsychiatry.

[25]  W. Williams.  Social acceptance of same-sex relationships in families: Models from other cultures. , 1998 .

[26]  T. Stein,et al.  Textbook of homosexuality and mental health. , 1996 .

[27]  F. Masterpasqua,et al.  Lesbians choosing motherhood: A comparative study of lesbian and heterosexual parents and their children. , 1995 .

[28]  C. Patterson,et al.  Families of the Lesbian Baby Boom: Parents' Division of Labor and Children's Adjustment. , 1995 .

[29]  C. Patterson.  Lesbian mothers, gay fathers, and their children. , 1995 .

[30]  Scholar,et al.  Pleasure and Danger: Exploring Female Sexuality , 1984 .