*2.1. Participants*

A total of 290 childless LG individuals (120 lesbians and 170 gay men), recruited online, participated in the study. The total sample ranged in age from 18 to 50 years (lesbians, M = 28.25, SD = 6.14; gay men, M = 33.11, SD = 9.64). Participants could participate in the online survey only if they self-identified with lesbian or gay sexual orientation, were of the Italian age of consent (i.e., 18-years old), did not already have children, and had lived in Italy for at least 10 years. Nineteen participants were excluded due to uncompleted questionnaires. Demographic characteristics for both the total sample and the sample differentiated by gender are reported in Table 1.


**Table 1.** Sociodemographic characteristics of participants ( *N* = 290).

Note: M = Mean; SD = Standard Deviation; Group differences in age were assessed through the Student's t-test; Group differences in all other characteristics were assessed through the χ2 test. \* No participant declared to be right-wing.
