Italian study suggests parent-child bonds unaffected by biological ties
Factors associated with children's attachment hierarchy in lesbian, gay, and heterosexual parent families through assisted reproduction (Quintigliano, 2024)
Quintigliano, M., Carone, N., Speranza, A. M., & Lingiardi, V. (2024). Factors associated with children's attachment hierarchy in lesbian, gay, and heterosexual parent families through assisted reproduction. Current Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-024-07248-y
Geographic Region: Italy
Research Question: What factors influence children’s choice of one or both parents as a primary attachment figure in families headed by parents of diverse sexual orientation who conceived using assisted reproduction?
Design: Cross-sectional study. Semi-structured interviews with children and parents (Adult Attachment Interview and Attachment Figure Interview). Multiple questionnaires measured parenting stress, parent-child relational efficacy, parental rejection, and parent positivity. Mixed models statistical analysis, logistic mixed model for primary outcomes.
Sample: 152 parents and their 76 children aged 6-12 years. 60 lesbian mothers through donor insemination, 50 gay fathers through surrogacy, and 42 heterosexual parents through gamete donation. All parents identified as cisgender and White. All children were aware of their conception through assisted reproduction.
Key Findings
There were no significant differences between male and female children in their choice of primary attachment figure.
Parent–child biological relatedness did not increase a parent’s likelihood of being a primary attachment figure.
Overall, parent’s reflective functioning (the ability to understand and think about their own and others' mental states and feelings) was significantly associated with their likelihood of being chosen as a primary attachment figure by the children.
In terms of gender, mothers were generally more likely than fathers to be chosen as a primary attachment figure. However, fathers with higher reflective functioning were more likely than mothers to be chosen as the primary attachment figure. Previous research suggests that paternal reflective functioning becomes increasingly important for children’s development in middle childhood.
In terms of family type, parent reflective functioning was only significant in determining children’s choice of primary attachment figure in lesbian mother families, with higher reflective functioning in genetic mothers associated with a greater likelihood that they would be identified as a primary attachment figure.
Gay fathers who demonstrated more parental rejection (lack of warmth, acceptance, or support for their child) were less likely to be chosen as primary figures.
Limitations: Small sample size. Differences in recruitment methods between family types. Heterosexual parents through sperm and egg donation were combined into one group due to sample size.
Applications: Professionals can help parents can focus on developing skills that really matter the parent-child bond, like being emotionally available and understanding their children's feelings and experiences.
Funding Source: Open access funding provided by Università degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata within the CRUI-CARE Agreement
Lead Author: Maria Quintigliano is affiliated with the Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata.
Regulatory Context
Donor conception has been legal since 2014, after a Constitutional Court ruling overturned the ban.
Only heterosexual couples (married or cohabiting) are eligible for assisted reproductive technologies. A medical diagnosis of infertility or sterility is required Single individuals and same-sex couples are not allowed to access ART.
Gamete donation is anonymous only. Donor-conceived people cannot access identifying information about the donor.
Donors can only receive reimbursement for expenses, no payment for the donation itself.
Surrogacy is totally illegal.
Most courts do not allow second-parent adoption for same-sex couples.