Differential item functioning analysis of parenthood idealization in a U.S.-based sample of LGBTQ+ child-free adults.

Understanding parenthood idealization can contribute to the development of critical support systems fitted to the unique needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (and additional identities; LGBTQ+) future and current parents. For instance, acknowledging diverse pathways to parenthood can inform strategies for LGBTQ+ adults seeking adoption. However, ongoing assessments of attitudes toward parenthood may not be culturally responsive or designed with the experiences of LGBTQ+ people in mind. Due to this absence, some measures of future parenthood attitudes may draw erroneous conclusions. This study utilized differential item functioning analysis to assess potential differences in responses to the Idealization of Parenthood (Eibach & Mock, 2011b) measure in two samples of U.S.-based LGBTQ+ child-free adults. In Study 1, with a sample of 418 participants, and in Study 2, with a sample of 975 participants, there was no indication of differential item functioning in the idealization of parenthood based on sexual or gender identity, which indicates that the concept of parenthood idealization was interpreted similarly across diverse groups in both studies. These findings highlight the importance of understanding the similarities and differences in attitudes toward future parenthood within LGBTQ+ communities. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).