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Sexuality Research and Social Policy

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20-08-2021

Parenthood Aspirations Mediate the Association Between Sexual Orientation and Mental Health in Israel

Authors: Geva Shenkman, Yuval Shaia

Published in: Sexuality Research and Social Policy | Issue 4/2022

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Abstract

Introduction

This study compared childless Israeli lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals to their heterosexual counterparts on mental health and parenthood aspiration indicators and assessed the mediating role of parenthood aspirations in the association between being a member of a sexual minority and adverse mental health outcomes.

Methods

A total of 527 childless participants (150 self-reported as LGB people) ranging in age from 18 to 49 (M = 31.35, SD = 3.87) were recruited through convenience sampling between November 2019 and February 2020. They completed online questionnaires assessing their parenthood desires, intentions, likelihood estimations, depressive symptomatology, and life satisfaction.

Results

LGB individuals reported higher levels of depressive symptomatology and lower levels of life satisfaction, parenthood desires, intentions, and likelihood estimations than heterosexual counterparts. Lower parenthood aspirations fully mediated the association between being a sexual minority and lower life satisfaction and partially mediated the association between being a sexual minority and depressive symptomatology.

Conclusions

The findings pinpoint the role of parenthood aspirations in mental health disparities between LGB and heterosexual individuals and are interpreted in light of minority stress and the link between lower parenthood aspirations and adverse mental health in a pronatalist and familistic environment.

Policy Implications

The findings have implications for policy makers and health professionals that should be alerted to the impact of decreased parenthood aspirations to mental health disparities between LGB and heterosexual individuals.

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Title: Parenthood Aspirations Mediate the Association Between Sexual Orientation and Mental Health in Israel
Authors: Geva Shenkman
Yuval Shaia
Publication date: 20-08-2021
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Sexuality Research and Social Policy / Issue 4/2022
Print ISSN: 1868-9884
Electronic ISSN: 1553-6610
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13178-021-00635-1

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Abstract

Introduction

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Policy Implications

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