Children brought up by same-sex couples are happier, healthier, and more sociable according to the initial findings from the world’s largest study on the subject.

The research, which studied the wellbeing of 500 children in Australia, found the self-esteem of children and the amount of time they spent with their parents was no different from the rest of the population.

But infants looked after by gay couples scored higher for overall health and family cohesion.

The differences between gay parents and the general population were so overwhelming, researchers said it would only occur by chance less than one in 10,000 times.

Lead author Dr Simon Crouch said while we do not know why children are better with same-sex parents, he offered his opinion on the findings.

‘Because of the situation that same-sex families find themselves in, they are generally more willing to communicate and approach the issues that any child may face at school, like teasing or bullying,’ he said.

‘This fosters openness and means children tend to be more resilient. That would be our hypothesis.’

The research goes against anti-gay opponents who often oppose LGBT rights because they are ‘thinking of the children’.

The findings of this latest study supports long-term research published in 2010, which showed children raised by lesbian parents develop into psychologically healthier teens than those raised by opposite sex couples.

Last year, an Australian major in the Salvation Army went on the record saying LGBT parents should be put to death in accordance to the Bible because of the damage they were doing to children.