Children of Same-Sex Parents have Better Health, Greater Wellbeing

An Australian study has found that children growing up with same-sex parents have better health and receive more care and attention than children growing up with heterosexual parents.

The study was conducted by researchers from University of Melbourne who found that families with gay parents were doing well, but were still facing discrimination.

"These children are growing up in a range of contexts and score well on measures of health and wellbeing in the face of discrimination," said Dr. Simon Crouch, from the McCaughey Vichealth Centre for Community Wellbeing at the University of Melbourne, lead author of the study.

Previously, a study review done by the American Psychological Association had found that children growing up with same-sex parents were at no particular disadvantage than children growing up with heterosexual parents.

The study included 500 Australian children aged between two months and 17 years from 315 parents. The parents were of different sexual orientations, including homosexual, gay, lesbian, bisexual and queer.

Study results showed that 93 percent of the parents were currently in a relationship and the children in these homes had better scores on general health and better family cohesion than children of heterosexual parents.

"International research to date has suggested that these children are doing well in many aspects of their lives, however they are often affected by the discrimination that their families may experience due to parental sexual orientation," Dr .Crouch added, according to a news release.

Even though research supports same-sex parents' ability to take care of their children, they are more likely to receive harsher criticism than straight parents.