{"title":"Predictors for desire, intention, and likelihood for more children among LGB parents through assisted reproduction.","authors":"Geva Shenkman, Kfir Ifrah, Yuval Shaia","doi":"10.1080/02646838.2025.2478398","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The global increase in families headed by lesbian, gay, or bisexual (LGB) parents via assisted reproduction was accompanied by increased research on the parenthood aspirations of childfree LGB individuals. However, limited attention has been given to the aspirations of LGB parents for more children. This study explored the multifaceted factors associating with aspirations for additional children among Israeli LGB parents through assisted reproduction, investigating the contribution of sociodemographic variables, parental experiences, as well as social and cultural factors to these aspirations.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A survey involving 234 cisgender LGB parents in Israel (aged 24-55; <i>M</i> = 40.23, <i>SD</i> = 6.59) was conducted from November 2022 to February 2024. Participants completed questionnaires assessing their desire, intention, and estimated likelihood to have more children alongside various sociodemographic, parental experience, social, and cultural variables.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Hierarchical regressions revealed that sociodemographic variables, namely younger parent age, fewer current children, higher importance of religious values, and better economic status, were associated with stronger aspirations for additional children. Social (discrimination, enacted stigma, social support) and cultural (pronatalism) factors did not significantly contribute beyond sociodemographic factors.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Unlike research on parenthood aspirations among childfree LGB individuals, social and cultural factors played a less significant role in shaping aspirations for more children among LGB individuals who are already parents. The findings offer essential insights for reproductive and family researchers, as well as policymakers, by shedding light on the factors associated with LGB parents' aspiration for additional children through assisted reproduction.</p>","PeriodicalId":47721,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology","volume":" ","pages":"1-15"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1000,"publicationDate":"2025-03-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology","FirstCategoryId":"102","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1080/02646838.2025.2478398","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"PSYCHOLOGY, MULTIDISCIPLINARY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background: The global increase in families headed by lesbian, gay, or bisexual (LGB) parents via assisted reproduction was accompanied by increased research on the parenthood aspirations of childfree LGB individuals. However, limited attention has been given to the aspirations of LGB parents for more children. This study explored the multifaceted factors associating with aspirations for additional children among Israeli LGB parents through assisted reproduction, investigating the contribution of sociodemographic variables, parental experiences, as well as social and cultural factors to these aspirations.
Methods: A survey involving 234 cisgender LGB parents in Israel (aged 24-55; M = 40.23, SD = 6.59) was conducted from November 2022 to February 2024. Participants completed questionnaires assessing their desire, intention, and estimated likelihood to have more children alongside various sociodemographic, parental experience, social, and cultural variables.
Results: Hierarchical regressions revealed that sociodemographic variables, namely younger parent age, fewer current children, higher importance of religious values, and better economic status, were associated with stronger aspirations for additional children. Social (discrimination, enacted stigma, social support) and cultural (pronatalism) factors did not significantly contribute beyond sociodemographic factors.
Conclusion: Unlike research on parenthood aspirations among childfree LGB individuals, social and cultural factors played a less significant role in shaping aspirations for more children among LGB individuals who are already parents. The findings offer essential insights for reproductive and family researchers, as well as policymakers, by shedding light on the factors associated with LGB parents' aspiration for additional children through assisted reproduction.
期刊介绍:
The Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology reports and reviews outstanding research on psychological, behavioural, medical and social aspects of human reproduction, pregnancy and infancy. Medical topics focus on obstetrics and gynaecology, paediatrics and psychiatry. The growing work in relevant aspects of medical communication and medical sociology are also covered. Relevant psychological work includes developmental psychology, clinical psychology, social psychology, behavioural medicine, psychology of women and health psychology. Research into psychological aspects of midwifery, health visiting and nursing is central to the interests of the Journal. The Journal is of special value to those concerned with interdisciplinary issues. As a result, the Journal is of particular interest to those concerned with fundamental processes in behaviour and to issues of health promotion and service organization.