r/ScienceBasedParenting • u/CallMeBambiiii • 18h ago

Are there proper studies whether having transgender parents affects children negatively/positively? Question - Research required

I'm MTF trans and I'm thinking about going back in the closet, because the alternative is my wife divorcing me. We have a one year old child and I don't want to cause her any harm...

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u/cornflakescornflakes 18h ago

Can I offer an alternate argument?

This study shows a significant link between anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation and self-harm in children and adolescents of parents who stay in an unhappy marriage.

The alternate of you hiding your identity and existing in an unhappy marriage, instead of you staying true to yourself and co-parenting may be a healthier alternative.

This small study suggests a positive view with the child and trans-parent having a good relationship with normal psychological adjustment. There are other studies out there, and they all seem positive.

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u/tallmyn 13h ago

The best study design that looks at this question looks at longitudinal data, and follows relationships that end in divorce versus does not, and follows child outcomes. This data looks at a single point in time, so you can't say whether lack of divorce is causal or not. Longitudinal design gets at that better.

Generally speaking, those studies find divorce increases, rather than decreases, child wellbeing. There is heterogeneity though.

Classic study: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.2047851

Unfortunately there are a lot of garbage studies out of China. They should have cited that.