Is Coming Out Always a “Good Thing”? Exploring the Relations of Autonomy Support, Outness, and Wellness for Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Individuals

TLDR

Prior research indicates that disclosing sexual identity generally benefits LGB individuals, but disclosure patterns and outcomes vary across individuals and contexts. This study investigates how within‑person variation in disclosure relates to well‑being depending on whether social contexts are autonomy supportive or controlling. Participants evaluated autonomy support/control, outness, and context‑specific self‑esteem, depression, and anger across family, friends, coworkers, school, and religious settings. Multilevel analysis showed that disclosure was more common in autonomy supportive contexts and linked to higher self‑esteem and lower depression and anger, whereas in controlling contexts disclosure had no positive effect.

Abstract

Prior research suggests that, on average, disclosing sexual identity (being “out”) yields wellness benefits for lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals. LGB individuals vary, however, both in how much they disclose their sexual orientation in different social contexts and in the experiences that follow from disclosure. The present research examines this within-person variation in disclosure and its consequences as a function of the autonomy supportive versus controlling character of social contexts. LGB individuals rated experiences of autonomy support and control in the contexts of family, friends, coworkers, school, and religious community, as well how “out” they were, and their context-specific self-esteem, depression, and anger. Findings from multilevel modeling revealed that LGB individuals were more likely to disclose in autonomy supportive contexts. Additionally, whereas disclosure was associated with more positive well-being in autonomy supportive contexts, in controlling contexts it was not. Practical and research implications are discussed.