Future Parenthood Ideas Among Child-Free LGBTQ+ Adults: The Roles of Stigma and LGBTQ+ Community Connections

Although a growing body of research has documented parenting desires and intentions among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and more identities (LGBTQ+) individuals, LGBTQ+ individuals also experience stigmatization and barriers to family formation. The present study examines how experiences of stigmatization are related to thoughts of future parenthood (i.e., parenting desires, parenting intentions, and LGBTQ+ parent socialization self-efficacy) among child-free LGBTQ+ adults. Additionally, we examined the role of connection to the LGBTQ+ community in moderating associations with stigma and in statistically predicting LGBTQ+ parent socialization self-efficacy. Participants (N = 433) reported on their thoughts about future parenthood, experiences of stigmatization, and LGBTQ+ community connection though an online cross-sectional survey. Results from multigroup path analysis showed that greater experiences of stigmatization were associated with greater parenting desires for cisgender women and greater parenting intentions across sexual and gender identity groups. Associations between stigma and parenting intentions were moderated by community connection, such that the positive association between stigma and parenting intentions was only significant at high levels of community connection. Finally, greater community connection was positively associated with LGBTQ+ parent socialization self-efficacy, but socialization self-efficacy was not associated with parenting desires or intentions. These findings suggest that connection to the LGBTQ+ community may play a role in thoughts about future parenthood for child-free LGBTQ+ individuals, especially among those who experience stigmatization. Clinicians and family practitioners can consider facilitating connections to the community as a way of supporting LGBTQ+ individuals who are interested in family formation.