Sarah, a social psychologist, is preparing a seminar on the influence of diverse family structures on child development. She wants to reference research on same-sex parenting. How might Victoria Clarke's research inform Sarah's presentation?

Victoria Clarke’s work shows that children raised by same‑sex parents develop social, academic, and emotional competencies comparable to those raised by opposite‑sex parents, highlighting the role of parenting quality over parental gender. Her studies use longitudinal designs to track children’s adjustment, revealing that supportive communication and shared responsibilities predict better outcomes. By citing Clarke’s findings, Sarah can argue that family structure itself is less influential than the quality of parenting and family cohesion. For example, Clarke’s research on a cohort of gay‑couple families found that children scored similarly on measures of empathy and school performance as children in heterosexual families, underscoring that diverse family forms can be equally nurturing. This evidence helps Sarah demonstrate that inclusive family models foster healthy development.