Study Protocol for the Rainbow Austrian Longitudinal Family (RALF) study: A longitudinal, multi-method, multi-rater investigation of risk and resilience factors in Austrian LGBTQ+ parent families

Background: Research on LGBTQ+ parent families is evolving to include a growing range of family systems, identities, methodologies, and topics. However, studies that examine minority-specific risk and resilience factors and their associations with within-family processes remain scarce, particularly outside a US-American context. Addressing these research gaps quantitatively poses challenges for researchers, because traditional modelling techniques based on (generalized) linear models are not ideally suited to capture the complexity and intersectionality of family experiences. Within this study protocol, we introduce the Rainbow Austrian Longitudinal Family (RALF) study. Its main goal is to comprehensively investigate general and minority-specific factors that affect the well-being of LGBTQ+ parent family members in Austria.Methods: RALF is a three-wave, longitudinal study over two years that examines risk and resilience factors at the individual, couple, and family level using a multi-method, multi-rater approach. We will assess child adjustment outcomes across three child cohorts, parental mental health, and family processes across three annual data waves through online questionnaires. We aim to recruit N = 150 LGBTQ+ parent families from a variety of family forms and with various identities residing in Austria. A focal sample (target n = 60) will additionally participate in observational, video-based assessments. Our participatory research approach aims to actively engage community members and stakeholders throughout the study. A community advisory board ensures that the study reflects the lived experiences of LGBTQ+ parent families adequately, while community events and accessible dissemination strategies for study results, such as the open access data explorer ExploRALF, support community engagement and facilitate the dissemination and discussion of results. Data will be analyzed using machine learning-based approaches designed to capture complex, non-linear interactions, which are ideally suited to model intersectional experiences of LGBTQ+ parent families.Discussion: The RALF study is the first prospective study to comprehensively investigate minority-specific risk and resilience factors in Austrian LGBTQ+ parent families. Findings have the potential to fill key research gaps, inform policy, and guide clinical practices that support LGBTQ+ parent families.