The Relationship Between LGBQ Identity Development and Hope, Optimism, and Life Engagement

ABSTRACT

The role that wellness constructs such as hope play in lesbian, gay, bisexual, and questioning persons' identity development has not been adequately researched. A sample of 77 mostly female and European American participants completed measures of (a) LGBQ identity development, (b) internalized homo-negativity, (c) hope, (d) optimism, and (e) life engagement. MANCOVA results show that participants differed in levels of hope, optimism, and life engagement by level of LGBQ identity development. Only hope was shown to reliably predict level of LGBQ identity development. Implications and recommendations are presented. Hope, optimism, and life engagement appear to be related to LGBQ identity development.

KEYWORDS:

• LGBQ identity development
• same-sex sexuality
• hope
• optimism
• life engagement

Notes

∗p < .001.

∗p ≤ slant .05.