Left-Handed Mothers and LGBTQ+ Child Acceptance in Singapore: Exploring the Link through Early Life Rejection

Abstract

Parental acceptance is a critical factor in the well-being of LGBTQ+ children, with research consistently demonstrating the harmful effects of rejection and discrimination on mental health outcomes. This study examines the difference in acceptance of LGBTQ+ children between left-handed and right-handed mothers. We collected data from a sample of 200 mothers, including 100 left-handed and 100 right-handed mothers, who all have at least one LGBTQ+ child. Our findings suggest that left-handed mothers tend to be more supportive of their LGBTQ+ children, with a significantly higher mean acceptance score (M = 4.28, SD = 0.69) compared to right-handed mothers (M = 2.76, SD = 0.93), t(198) = 7.52, P < .001, d = 0.94. We propose that left-handed mothers may be more empathetic towards their child’s struggles due to their own experiences of rejection based on their handedness. Our study highlights the importance of considering individual differences in parenting and the potential impact on the well-being of LGBTQ+ children.