Parental Stress, Minority Stress, and Depression Among LGBTQ+ Parents

Numerous studies have demonstrated a positive association between parental stress and depression. As these studies have centered cisgender-heterosexual parents, there is a need to clarify whether and how this association applies for lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, transgender, and other sexually and gender diverse (LGBTQ+) parents, particularly in social and structural contexts marked by minority stress. This online survey-based study examined the association between parental stress and depressive symptoms in a sample of 511 LGBTQ+ parents. In addition, we examined the potential moderating roles of heterosexist parenting experiences and state LGBTQ+ protective policies in the association between parental stress and depressive symptoms. Results indicated that high parental stress was associated with more severe depressive symptoms. Heterosexist parenting experiences moderated the positive association between parental stress and depressive symptoms, such that the association was stronger at higher occurrences of heterosexist parenting experiences. State LGBTQ+ protective policies was not a significant moderator. Further research is needed to inform interventions that can mitigate the harmful interactive effect of parental stress and heterosexist parenting experiences on LGBTQ+ parents’ mental health.