A study in the Journal of Homosexuality showed that teenagers living with lesbian mother are more academically successful and are generally happier in life.
The study gathered data from 78 17-year-olds (39 boys and 39 girls). The participants were conceived through donor insemination and have been followed since birth as part of the U.S. National Longitudinal Lesbian Family Study (NLLFS), an ongoing study of lesbian families, according to NLLFS.org . The families were enrolled in the study between 1986 and 1992, when the prospective lesbian mothers were inseminating or pregnant.
The teens were asked their grade-point averages. In order to assess how supportive their schools were, they were asked questions such as, "Are there out lesbian/gay teachers or administrators at your high school?" They were also asked about friendships, family interactions, health problems and well-being.
Results showed that the adolescents succeeded in school, and had active social networks as well as close family bonds. The adolescents rated their overall well-being an average of 8.14 out of 10.
As part of the summary, the authors state "to determine whether the successful outcomes in the NLLFS adolescents are a reflection of lesbian parenting per se, or simply good or highly motivated parenting, comparing the NLLFS cohort with a matched group of adolescents conceived by donor insemination in heterosexual-parent families would be illuminating (Golombok & Badger, 2010)."
Researchers in the study included Nanette Gartrell, M.D.; Henny M. W. Bos, Ph.D.; Heidi Peyser, M.A.; Amalia Deck, M.S.N.; and Carla Rodas, M.P.H.