Attitudes Toward Family Diversity: A Systematic Review and Conceptual Framework of Structure and Composition

Anahita Mehrpour , University of Lausanne
Adar Hoffman, University of Lausanne
Laura Bernardi, Université de Lausanne

Family forms have diversified globally over recent decades, yet public attitudes and institutional practices often remain anchored in traditional ideals of the heterosexual, twobiological-parent family. This systematic review synthesizes research published between 2013 and 2024 on attitudes toward diverse family structures, extending previous reviews by Ganong et al. (1990) and Valiquette-Tessier et al. (2016). Following PRISMA guidelines and complemented by bibliometric analysis, over 70 empirical studies were identified that examine perceptions of single-parent, step-, and same-sex parent families, comparing them to each other and-or to a traditional nuclear family ideal. Across contexts, non-normative families continue to be evaluated less favorably, particularly regarding parental competence, family stability, and child outcomes. However, recent evidence reveals increasing contextual differentiation: biases are weaker in settings with inclusive policy frameworks and greater social exposure to family diversity. Beyond documenting these trends, the review advances a conceptual clarification by distinguishing two analytical dimensions—structure (e.g., singleparent, step-family, or intact) and composition (e.g., gender and sexual orientation of parents)—to organize and interpret heterogeneous findings. This framework highlights variation—and occasional inconsistency—in how “family type” has been operationalized across studies, often conflating structural and compositional dimensions. We argue that future research should adopt multidimensional definitions of family forms, enabling clearer theoretical articulation of how social norms, gendered expectations, and family processes intersect in shaping perceptions of family diversity.

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 Presented in Session 16. Family and Households