Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Youths Coming Out to Their Parents: Parental Reactions and Youths’ Outcomes

TLDR

The study is clinically relevant for interventions targeting sexually diverse populations. The study examines how parental reactions influence GLB youths’ identity development and psychological adjustment after coming out. The authors interviewed 53 parents and surveyed 53 GLB youths, coding parental reactions across ten positive and negative dimensions. No gender differences were found in parental reactions or youth outcomes, but parental support, control attempts, and struggles were significantly linked to youths’ identity and adjustment, with these associations moderated by parents’ gender.

Abstract

This study examines the contribution of parental reactions to their child's identity development and psychological adjustment following their child's coming out as gay, lesbian, or bisexual (GLB). Interviews on parental reactions were administered to 53 parents, and questionnaires on identity and adjustment were administered to their 53 GLB youths. Parental interviews were coded using 10 positive and negative dimensions of parental reactions. There were no gender differences in levels of positive and negative parental reactions and in levels of GLB youths' outcomes. However, as expected, parents' support of their child's sexual orientation, parents' attempts to control their child's sexual orientation, and parents' struggles with their child's sexual orientation were significantly associated with dimensions of youths' identity and psychological adjustment. Parents' gender also moderated the strength of the associations between parental reactions and youths' outcomes. This study is of clinical relevance for intervention regarding sexually diverse populations.