Integrating Demography and Biosocial Stress Models of LGBTI Family Formation

描述(由申请人提供)：尽管人们对女同性恋者和男同性恋者(LG)父母的人口统计学和福利非常感兴趣，但目前关于LG家庭或向LG父母过渡的纵向研究非常有限。现存的大多数文献都是描述性的，比较的，或仅限于LG父母的不同亚群。在这项研究中，考察LG家庭结构趋势的人口学研究很少考虑家庭和个人过程，这可能是LG家庭形成趋势变化的原因；同时，LG父母的发展研究很少考虑生态和文化对家庭和个人功能的影响，也很少系统地考虑家庭结构如何影响家庭动态。最后，据我所知，没有一项研究将家庭人口学和生物社会方法结合起来，以了解在LG家庭中，压力是如何与生态和个人或家庭的决策和行为有关的。目前的研究将使用美国人口普查和美国社区调查等纵向国家数据集的二级数据分析来检查过去10年来LG家庭结构在州内的变化，以及这些变化如何与州一级的社会政治气候和与LG家庭形成相关的公共政策相关联。随后将进行一项试点研究，明确考察社会政治和生态因素如何与个人心理健康、关系稳定性和压力负荷所调节的家庭形成和LG家庭功能的决策相关。我概述了3个培训目标 这对于这项及时和创新的研究研究的成功至关重要。第一个目标是在家庭人口学研究中发展概念和方法方面的专门知识，重点是背景对男女同性恋父母家庭形成的影响。第二个目标是增加我在使用已建立的国家数据集(如美国人口普查和美国社区调查)进行与LG家庭研究相关的次要数据分析方面的知识和专业技能。第三个目标是利用个人和家庭形成和运作的生物社会模型进行多州试点，以了解背景因素如何与LG个人的幸福感相关，关于家庭形成的时间、方法和地点的决定，以及父母的职能，以准备在K01资助期的后几年就这一主题提交R01提案。我已经建立了一个非常强大和有成就的指导团队，他们将指导我的培训，并在拟议研究的每个阶段进行合作。在与我的导师和顾问协商后，我制定了一项培训计划，其中包括(1)以导师为基础的监督培训和指导活动，(2)正式的研究生水平的课程和短期课程，以及(3)参加相关的研究研讨会、座谈会和科学会议。这次培训和试点研究将为我提供必要的技能、经验和初步数据，以建立一个关于这个具有高度重要性和创新性的主题的独立研究计划。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Although there is very high interest in the demography and welfare of families headed by lesbian and gay (LG) parents, there is currently very limited longitudinal research on LG families or the transition to LG parenthood. Most of the extant literature is descriptive, comparative, or limited to distinct subgroups of LG parents. Of this research, demography studies that examined trends in LG family structures have rarely considered the family and individual processes that may account for changing trends in LG family formation; meanwhile developmental studies of LG parents have rarely considered the ecological and cultural influences on family and individual functioning, nor systematically considered how family structure may impact the family dynamic. Lastly, no studies that I am aware of have integrated family demography and biosocial approaches to understanding how stress is related to ecological and individual or family decisions and behaviors in LG families. The current research will use both secondary data analyses of longitudinal national datasets such as the U.S. Census and American Community Survey to examine within-state changes in rates of LG family structures over the past 10 years and how these changes correlate with state-level sociopolitical climates and public policies pertinent to LG family formation. This will be followed by a pilot study that will explicitly examine how sociopolitical and ecological factors ar associated with decisions regarding family formation and LG family functioning as mediated by individual mental health, relationship stability, and stress load. I have outlined 3 training goals that are critical for the success of this timely and innovative research study. The first goal is t develop conceptual and methodological expertise in the study of family demography, with an emphasis on contextual influences on family formation for lesbian and gay parents. The second goal is to increase my knowledge and expertise in using established national datasets such as the U.S. Census and the American Community survey to conduct secondary data analyses pertinent to the study of LG families. The third goal is to conduct a multi-state pilot using a biosocial model of individual and family formation and functioning to understand how contextual factors are related to LG individuals' well-being, decisions regarding the timing, method, and location for family formation, and parental functioning in preparation of submitting an R01 proposal on this topic in the later years of this K01 funding period. I have established an extremely strong and accomplished mentorship team that will guide my training and collaborate on each phase of the proposed research. In consultation with my mentors and consultants I have established a training plan that includes (1) mentor-based supervised training and directed activities, (2) formal graduate level coursework and short courses, and (3) participation in relevant research seminars, colloquia and scientific meetings. This training and pilot research will provide me with the skills, experience, and preliminary data necessary to establish an independent research program on this highly significant and innovative topic.