Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology最新文献

{"title":"Transitional identities: challenges and coping mechanisms of Israeli gay fathers during assisted reproductive technologies.","authors":"Shulamit Geller, Yehoshuah Akerman, Shanni Refaelove","doi":"10.1080/02646838.2025.2474548","DOIUrl":"10.1080/02646838.2025.2474548","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The rise in gay fatherhood, facilitated by advancements in surrogacy, has led to increased research on the well-being of gay fathers. However, there is limited understanding of how these fathers experience and cope with the psychological challenges of assisted reproductive technologies (ART), especially in specific cultural contexts like Israel.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study examines the experiences and coping strategies of Israeli gay fathers using transnational surrogacy, applying liminality as a framework to understand their navigation of the ART process.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Semi-structured interviews with 22 Israeli gay fathers were analysed using thematic analysis, to identify patterns related to their challenges and coping mechanisms.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Participants described a complex emotional journey involving phases of separation, uncertainty, and transformation. Key challenges during pregnancy included feelings of limited control due to physical distance from the surrogate, concerns over control, and cultural and linguistic barriers. Coping strategies involved normalising detachment, seeking professional support, and reframing relationships with surrogates. Transitioning to fatherhood brought both anxiety and joy, improving relationships with families who had previously struggled to accept their sexual identity, and enabling greater social acceptance and a renewed sense of identity.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Our findings highlight the challenges of navigating status changes and transitional phases, emphasising the difficulties inherent in liminality. The study sheds light on adaptive coping strategies and underscores the importance of supportive networks for gay fathers undergoing ART. It also emphasises the role of cultural context in shaping these experiences, suggesting further research to deepen the understanding of gay fatherhood through ART.</p>","PeriodicalId":47721,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology","volume":" ","pages":"954-972"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143558357","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Validating an instrument on gay fathers' beliefs about socialising children conceived through surrogacy.","authors":"Henny M W Bos, Mark Assink, Geva Shenkman, Salvatore D'Amore, Loes van Rijn-Van Gelderen, Nicola Carone","doi":"10.1080/02646838.2025.2577295","DOIUrl":"10.1080/02646838.2025.2577295","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aims: </strong>This study aimed to develop and validate an instrument to assess gay fathers' beliefs about socialising their children conceived through surrogacy.</p><p><strong>Background: </strong>As societal norms evolve and reproductive technologies advance, more gay men are starting families through surrogacy. Research is limited on the unique socialisation beliefs of these fathers, particularly concerning surrogacy and societal perceptions.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Participants were 208 gay fathers from 104 families in Italy, Israel, the Netherlands, and Belgium. Fathers completed a survey with six adapted items from the Sexual Minority Parent Socialisation Beliefs Scale, together with measures of stigma experiences and sense of belonging to the gay community. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses tested the factor structure and reliability. Convergent validity, as well as differences between countries and other demographic variables, were examined.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A two-factor structure was identified: <i>Coping with moral and ethical comments</i> (coping beliefs) and <i>Interaction with other surrogacy families</i> (interaction beliefs). Both subscales demonstrated good internal consistency. Convergent validity was partially confirmed: coping beliefs were significantly associated with stigma experiences, while interaction beliefs were positively related to sense of community belonging. Country differences were found only for <i>Coping with moral and ethical comments</i>, with Belgian fathers scoring higher than fathers in Italy, Israel, and the Netherlands. Coping beliefs increased with child age, while interaction beliefs were stronger among fathers who pursued gestational surrogacy. Marital status and child's sex showed no significant effects.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The instrument provides a validated tool to advance research and interventions supporting resilience in gay father families via surrogacy.</p>","PeriodicalId":47721,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology","volume":" ","pages":"1085-1101"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145373069","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Demographic and arrangement-based predictors of Dutch people's attitudes towards surrogacy in various family constitutions.","authors":"Sanne Agterberg, Loes van Rijn-van Gelderen, Floor van Rooij, Maurits de Vos, Eva Jaspers, Ruben Fukkink, Monique Mochtar, Mariëtte Goddijn, Henny Bos","doi":"10.1080/02646838.2025.2462076","DOIUrl":"10.1080/02646838.2025.2462076","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Over time, surrogacy has become more broadly available to a variety of people (e.g. male same-sex couples or transgender women). Whether the wider public supports surrogacy, and what contributes to such support remains unclear. This study investigated what demographic and surrogacy arrangement-based (which people participate in the arrangement) factors shape attitudes towards surrogacy.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>A representative sample of Dutch adults (<i>N</i> = 1,074) reported their attitudes on four (out of 30) randomly assigned vignettes in 2023. Each vignette described a surrogacy family with variations in sexuality and gender of parents, the social and genetic bonds between the parents, the surrogate, and the oocyte donor, and was followed by an attitude questionnaire (6 items). Multilevel regression analyses were conducted with attitudes as the dependent variable and demographic factors (gender, Dutch background, age, education, sexual orientation, urbanisation, and religiosity) and arrangement-based factors (parental composition, genetic and social bonds with the surrogate, and oocyte donors).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Participants held fairly positive attitudes towards surrogacy. People identifying as women, with only having a Dutch background, who were younger, more highly educated, non-heterosexual, or less religious were more likely to have positive attitudes. Participants had more positive attitudes if surrogacy arrangements entailed cis-man cis-woman parents compared to cis-man cis-man or transgender parents, and when there was no social bond between parents and oocyte donor.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Attitudes are influenced by both demographic and arrangement-based factors. Based on these findings, families can be informed of fairly positive reactions they might encounter from their environment.</p>","PeriodicalId":47721,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology","volume":" ","pages":"1132-1142"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143374896","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"To build a family: exploring preferred paths to parenthood among plurisexual individuals without children.","authors":"Jorge Gato, Inês Vázquez, Susana Coimbra, Inês Santos, Iolanda Dore, Geva Shenkman, Kamil Janowicz, Pawel Ciesielski, Fiona Tasker","doi":"10.1080/02646838.2025.2547920","DOIUrl":"10.1080/02646838.2025.2547920","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aims/background: </strong>Limited research has examined family-building strategies among plurisexual individuals. Culture and gender are essential determinants of parenthood prospects among individuals with minoritized sexual identities. For plurisexual individuals, the partner's gender also seems to play a critical role. Our investigation aimed to explore cisgender plurisexual individuals' preferred paths to parenthood considering their country of origin, gender, and partner's gender.</p><p><strong>Design/method: </strong>We examined associations between preferred pathways to parenthood and country, gender, and partner's gender among 405 cisgender plurisexual individuals aged between 18 and 45 years (<i>M</i> = 25.76; <i>SD</i> = 5.57), from Portugal (<i>n</i> = 140; 34.9%), Israel (<i>n</i> = 78; 19.3%), Poland (<i>n</i> = 85; 21%), and the UK (<i>n</i> = 102; 25.2%).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Overall, couple adoption and sexual intercourse were the most chosen pathways to parenthood, and self-insemination and co-parenting were the least chosen. Participants from Poland and the United Kingdom were less likely to choose artificial insemination, single adoption, and self-insemination than their Portuguese counterparts. Women were more likely than men to choose artificial insemination. Individuals in different-gender relationships were more likely to choose sexual intercourse as a means of having children than were those in same-gender relationships, and the opposite was true for artificial insemination.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Country, gender, and the partner's gender influence plurisexual individuals' choice of some parenthood pathways. Psychological and reproductive counselling should consider these aspects.</p>","PeriodicalId":47721,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology","volume":" ","pages":"913-925"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144849397","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Gender and sexual diversity over the life cycle in families formed through assisted reproduction.","authors":"Nicola Carone, Geva Shenkman, Henny M W Bos","doi":"10.1080/02646838.2026.2672270","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/02646838.2026.2672270","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":47721,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology","volume":"44 4","pages":"895-897"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148303575","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Trans*, inter*, and non-binary (TIN*) people's desire of parenthood and concrete fertility intentions in Germany.","authors":"Mirjam Fischer, Deni Mazrekaj","doi":"10.1080/02646838.2025.2540588","DOIUrl":"10.1080/02646838.2025.2540588","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Trans*, inter*, and non-binary (TIN*) individuals often face unique challenges in navigating societal, legal and institutional barriers to parenthood compared to cisgender sexual minority people. A prerequisite to adequately support this population is understanding their desire to become parents, expectations of barriers and concrete fertility intentions.</p><p><strong>Aims: </strong>This study systematically investigates the parenthood desires and concrete fertility intentions among TIN* individuals compared to cisgender sexual minority people in Germany to deepen our understanding of TIN* desire for parenthood. This highlights heterogeneity within what is often summarised as one LGBTQI* community.</p><p><strong>Design/methods: </strong>Using a large sample of 2,819 respondents, including 502 TIN* individuals, we examine differences in the desire for parenthood and the presence of concrete fertility plans among parents using binary logistic regression estimation.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Our results show that TIN* individuals assigned female at birth are 62% less likely to desire parenthood compared to cisgender sexual minority women, while TIN* individuals assigned male at birth display similar parenthood desires to both cisgender sexual minority men and women. Further, TIN* individuals are less likely to have concrete fertility plans compared to cisgender sexual minority women. All respondent groups named legal and bureaucratic reasons most frequently as the main hurdles for fertility planning.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>These findings highlight the complexity of family planning within the TIN* community and underline the importance of comprehensive care and support for LGBTQI* individuals navigating parenthood aspirations.</p>","PeriodicalId":47721,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology","volume":" ","pages":"926-936"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144974129","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Coparenting and triadic interactions in lesbian and gay parent families: impact of internalised parenthood-related stigma.","authors":"Jacopo Tracchegiani, Maria Quintigliano, Gianluca Cruciani, Nicola Carone","doi":"10.1080/02646838.2025.2526496","DOIUrl":"10.1080/02646838.2025.2526496","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aims: </strong>This longitudinal study examines how coparenting experiences in the family of origin influence family alliance in lesbian and gay parent families formed via assisted reproduction, and whether internalised parenthood-related stigma moderates these associations.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Using a longitudinal, multi-method design, 38 lesbian mother families through donor insemination and 36 gay father families through surrogacy were recruited, all with children (52.70% assigned female at birth) aged approximately 36 months at time 1 (T1) and 48 months at time 2 (T2), residing in Italy. At T1, parents reported family-of-origin coparenting experiences and internalised stigma through interviews. At T2, family alliance was assessed using the Lausanne Trilogue Play during triadic interactions. Linear regression models tested direct and moderated effects.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Most lesbian and gay parent families demonstrated cooperative family alliances. Parents reporting more conflictual and less supportive family-of-origin coparenting at T1 showed poorer family alliances at T2. Internalised stigma moderated this association, with higher stigma levels intensifying the negative effects of conflictual family-of-origin coparenting experiences on current family alliance.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The findings highlight the impact of early family experiences and minority stress on family alliance in lesbian and gay parent families formed via assisted reproduction. Parenting interventions with these families should address unresolved family-of-origin issues and support parents in mitigating internalised stigma to promote cooperative family alliances. Advocacy efforts are essential to reduce stigma and promote inclusive policies for diverse families.</p>","PeriodicalId":47721,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology","volume":" ","pages":"1052-1067"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144545489","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Sperm donor relations among adult offspring conceived via insemination by lesbian parents.","authors":"Audrey S Koh, Esther D Rothblum, Henny M W Bos, Nicola Carone, Nanette K Gartrell","doi":"10.1080/02646838.2023.2227867","DOIUrl":"10.1080/02646838.2023.2227867","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aim: </strong>The present study examined how adult offspring of lesbian parents relate to their anonymous, open-identity, or known donors.</p><p><strong>Design: </strong>An online survey of 75 donor-conceived offspring of lesbian parents, aged 30-33 years, participating in Wave 7 of a U.S. 36-year longitudinal study of planned lesbian-parent families was conducted. Offspring were asked about donor type, motivations for contacting the donor, terminology for the donor, relationship quality, means of relationship maintenance, impact of donor contact on offspring's other family members, and their feelings about the donor.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Twenty offspring with anonymous donors and 15 with open-identity donors whom they had not contacted felt comfortable not knowing their donors. Forty offspring knew their donors - anonymous, contacted through an online registry (<i>n</i> = 7), open-identity, contacted (<i>n</i> = 9), or known since childhood (<i>n</i> = 24). Offspring who had contacted their donor since age 18 had their motivations fulfilled after contact, got along well with him, did not view him as a relative, and had told most family members about their contact, without detriment. Whether the donor was unknown or known at this stage of their lives, most offspring were satisfied with their contact level.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This cohort of donor-conceived offspring of lesbian parents was among the first to reach adulthood during a time of technological advances in DNA testing, giving access to anonymous donors via online registries. The results inform donors, families, mental health providers, medical providers and public policymakers, on whether, how, and to what degree donor-conceived offspring optimally make donor contact.</p>","PeriodicalId":47721,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology","volume":" ","pages":"1102-1115"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9737637","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A phenomenological exploration of non-carrying mothers in same-gender relationships experiences of a psychologically traumatic birth.","authors":"Sophie Williams, Zoe Darwin, Leonie Lee-Carbon, Jane Iles","doi":"10.1080/02646838.2025.2503936","DOIUrl":"10.1080/02646838.2025.2503936","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aims/background: </strong>Birth trauma is increasingly recognised in policy and practice, yet remains focused on birthing women, also holding the assumption that families involve only one of these. This research explored psychologically traumatic birth experiences in non-carrying mothers in same-gender relationships, and how they made sense of these experiences.</p><p><strong>Design/methods: </strong>Interviews were conducted with eight participants recruited via social media and charities, analysed using Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis. Sample demographics were homogeneous; all self-identified as Black, lesbian, first-time mothers.</p><p><strong>Results and discussion: </strong>Four themes were developed: 'anticipated and realised threats', 'navigating identities and roles in the transition to motherhood', 'importance of feeling understood and accepted by others' and 'adapting to a new normal'. Participants' reported threat often began during pregnancy, influenced through prior experiences of perinatal loss, trauma, and stressors related to holding minoritised identities, specifically concerning sexuality and race. Challenges were experienced related to navigating dual identities as both a partner and mother, with prevalent feelings of resentment, invisibility, shame, and not being 'good enough'. Most experienced stigma and discrimination, from within and outside their families, and valued spaces where they felt accepted, including through connecting with other LGBTQ+ parents. Implications for subsequent reproductive choices were voiced, typically linked to efforts to prevent repeated trauma.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Psychologically traumatic birth may be experienced by any parent, bringing significant impacts for individuals and their relationships. Intersectional approaches that recognise diverse routes to parenthood are needed to inform and evaluate family-focused support provision, which may include facilitating couples' navigation of reproductive choices.</p>","PeriodicalId":47721,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology","volume":" ","pages":"988-1005"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143990951","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"\"Oh, who's the mum?\": a thematic analysis of neonatal experiences of lesbian and queer+ parents.","authors":"Abby Howes, Bob Budd, Elisabeth Norton","doi":"10.1080/02646838.2026.2644328","DOIUrl":"10.1080/02646838.2026.2644328","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>The aim of the current research was to explore how LGBTQ+ parents experience neonatal units in the United Kingdom and how they feel their own sexual orientation and/or gender identity impacted this experience.</p><p><strong>Background: </strong>Admission of a baby to a neonatal unit can negatively impact parents' psychological wellbeing and parents of premature babies are at a higher risk of mental health difficulties. LGBTQ+ parents are more likely to experience discrimination and invalidation in healthcare. Family-centred care can promote respect and affirmation. However, much of the research focuses on cisgender heterosexual parents and there is little guidance for supporting LGBTQ+ families on neonatal units.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Twelve parents were interviewed about their experience of their baby being admitted to a neonatal unit. Although the study aimed to recruit participants from all identities within the LGBTQ+ community, the majority of participants identified as female, and lesbian or queer. Interviews were recorded, transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The findings were separated into two meta-themes based on experiences as parents and experiences specific to lesbian and queer+ parents. The focus of the current paper discusses the themes identified within the meta-theme, 'experience as lesbian and queer+ parents in a neonatal unit'. Four themes were discussed: 'real and perceived threats', 'adapting to a heteronormative world', 'positive experiences' and 'actions speak louder than words'.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The current research contributes to an important gap in the literature. Recommendations for clinical practice have been made, including the use of inclusive language and proactive actions.</p>","PeriodicalId":47721,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology","volume":" ","pages":"973-987"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147515781","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}