A recent study by Sarah Foley, Vasanti Jadva and Susan Golombok explores an important question for modern families:
Does it make a difference if you choose to co-parent with someone you already know, versus someone you meet online?
What is elective co-parenting?
Elective co-parenting is when two or more people choose to have and raise a child together outside of a romantic relationship. With the rise of connection platforms, more people are now meeting co-parents online—something many Pride Angel members will already be familiar with.
Key Findings: Reassuring News for Modern Families
1. Parents and children are doing well
The study found that:
Parents generally reported good mental health, low stress, and strong support networks
Children showed healthy emotional and behavioural development, with low levels of risk
Overall, these families are functioning just as well as those in the wider population.
2. How you meet your co-parent doesn’t affect outcomes
One of the most important findings:
There were no meaningful differences between families who met online and those who already knew each other
This challenges common assumptions that meeting a co-parent online may be riskier or less stable. In reality, both groups showed similar levels of:
Wellbeing
Co-parenting quality
Child development outcomes
3. Strong co-parenting matters more than family structure
The research highlights that what really matters is:
Communication
Cooperation
Mutual respect
Many co-parents reported high-quality co-parenting relationships, sometimes even stronger than those seen in separated or divorced families.
4. Families are diverse—and growing
Elective co-parenting is not limited to one group:
Both heterosexual and LGBTQ+ individuals are choosing this path
Many use online platforms to find compatible co-parents
This reflects a broader shift toward more flexible and intentional ways of building families.
Important Considerations
While the overall picture is very positive, the study also highlights a few areas to think about:
Some parents reported anxiety, even when overall wellbeing was good
Experiences of stigma or lack of acceptance still exist for some families
Not all parents fully understood legal implications, such as parental rights
This underlines the importance of:
Clear co-parenting agreements
Access to legal and emotional support
Open conversations from the start
What This Means for Pride Angel Members
This research offers strong reassurance:
👉 Meeting a co-parent online is just as valid as meeting someone you already know
👉 Children thrive in loving, well-planned co-parenting environments
👉 The quality of the relationship matters far more than how it began
For those considering co-parenting, it reinforces what many in the Pride Angel community already believe—intentional parenting, honesty, and communication are the foundations of success.
Looking Ahead
The researchers note that more long-term studies are needed, especially to understand:
Children’s perspectives as they grow older
How co-parenting relationships evolve over time
But the message so far is clear:
Elective co-parenting is a positive and viable path to parenthood—regardless of how you meet.
For full read please see here Elective co-parenting with someone already known versus someone met online: implications for parent and child psychological functioning - ScienceDirect