Lesbian Mothers and Their Children: A Review for School Psychologists

This article reviews empirical and clinical research on lesbian mothers and their children. Three main family patterns of lesbian households are discussed, and some common misconceptions about these families are addressed. The research reviewed does not support differences between children of lesbians and children of heterosexuals with regard to their emotional health, interpersonal relationships, sexual orientation, or gender development. Psychological adjustment and parenting skills were not significantly different for lesbian and heterosexual mothers. Implications for school psychology practice and training and recommendations for future research are provided. An Appendix listing resources is included.