Longitudinal associations between prenatal testosterone and postpartum outcomes in a sample of first-time expectant lesbian couples

Although increasing numbers of gay and lesbian individuals ultimately become parents, the vast majority of research on the transition to parenthood focuses exclusively on heterosexual samples. Even less is known about the physiological implications of this major life transition among those who identify as sexual minorities. The present study begins to redress these gaps in the literature by assessing prospective links between prenatal testosterone, a steroid hormone that is negatively associated with nurturance and caregiving, and postpartum outcomes in a sample of 25 first-time expectant lesbian couples (N = 50 individuals). Consistent with prior work in heterosexual samples, which suggests that lower testosterone promotes both partnering and parenting, we found that, in both partners, lower testosterone during the prenatal period predicted better romantic relationship and parenting outcomes at three-months postpartum (e.g., higher relationship quality, more time spent doing baby care). There was also evidence for dyadic associations; for instance, birth mothers reported more overprotective behavior, and non-birth mothers reported greater commitment, when their female partners had lower testosterone. Together, our findings contribute important new knowledge about the functionality of testosterone in close relationships contexts, including some of the first evidence among sexual minorities.

Files

Metadata

Work Title Longitudinal associations between prenatal testosterone and postpartum outcomes in a sample of first-time expectant lesbian couples
Access
Open Access
Creators
  1. Britney Wardecker
Keyword
  1. Lesbian mothers, Parenting, Pregnancy, Relationship quality, Testosterone, Hormones
License In Copyright (Rights Reserved)
Work Type Article
Acknowledgments
  1. We thank the couples who participated in the study and the many research assistants who assisted with data collection. This research was supported by grants to Robin Edelstein from the Institute for Research on Women and Gender at the University of Michigan, the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues, and the Williams Institute at the University of California, Los Angeles. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish or preparation of the manuscript.
Publication Date September 2020
Deposited February 25, 2021

Versions

Analytics

Collections

This resource is currently not in any collection.

Work History

Version 1
published

  • Created
  • Updated Acknowledgments Show Changes
    Acknowledgments
    • We thank the couples who participated in the study and the many research assistants who assisted with data collection. This research was supported by grants to Robin Edelstein from the Institute for Research on Women and Gender at the University of Michigan, the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues, and the Williams Institute at the University of California, Los Angeles. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish or preparation of the manuscript.
  • Added Creator Britney Wardecker
  • Updated License Show Changes
    License
    • https://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/
  • Added Chin et al HB 2020.pdf
  • Published
  • Updated
  • Updated