Parental Care by Family Structure (Nuclear,Remarried,Single-Parent,LGBTQIA+) and Child Gender: A Brazilian Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Despite diversity in family structures, few studies have examined how family structure and child gender shape parental care, particularly in Brazil. Goal: This study examines how family structure and child gender relate to parent values and goal orientations toward child development in Brazil. Methods: The sample included 129 caregivers from different structures including: nuclear (47.3%), remarried (32.6%), single-parent (10.9%), and LGBTQIA+ (9.3%). Most participants had an undergraduate degree and were concentrated in the middle and upper-middle classes. Children were mainly female and ranged in age from 8 to 11 years. Caregivers completed four measures to assess their care based on developmental goals, parental warmth, materialism beliefs, and value priorities. Results: Findings from multivariate analyses indicated no between-group differences for family structure, child gender, or their interaction. Conclusion: The findings align with contemporary perspectives on families, suggesting that goals and values may depend less on family structure.