Stigma and Mental Health of French Children Aged 7 to 10 Whose Parents Are LGBT+: A Dyadic Parent-Child Approach

Children of LGBT+ parents may experience stigma, just as their parents, and this stigma can have adverse effects on their mental health. Our research aimed to study the links between children’s mental health and the stigma experienced by children and parents, using a dyadic approach, i.e. by measuring the stigma perceived by both the child and their parent. To this end, 33 dyads with one LGBT parent and one child aged 7 to 10 were recruited. The following variables were measured in the children: anxiety symptoms, well-being, perceived stigma of having LGBT+ parents, and bullying at school. The following variables were measured among parents: perceived discrimination in general and perceived stigma related to their LGBT+ family within the school. Our results showed that the stigma experienced by children was associated with their level of anxiety and well-being, and that the stigma experienced by parents in the school context was associated with their children’s level of well-being. These results highlight the importance of combating the stigma experienced by children with LGBT+ parents, as well as that experienced by their parents in the school context, in order to promote the good mental health of these children.