3,153
Views
77
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
Articles

Coming Out as Lesbian, Gay, or Bisexual: The Lasting Impact of Initial Disclosure Experiences

, &
Pages 549-569 | Received 29 Jul 2014, Accepted 09 Mar 2015, Published online: 14 Apr 2015

References

  • Adie, J. W., Duda, J. L., & Ntoumanis, N. (2008). Autonomy support, basic need satisfaction and the optimal functioning of adult male and female sport participants: A test of basic needs theory. Motivation and Emotion, 32, 189–199. doi:10.1007/s11031-008-9095-z.
  • Assor, A., Roth, G., & Deci, E. L. (2004). The emotional costs of parents' conditional regard: A self-determination theory analysis. Journal of Personality, 72, 47–88. doi:10.1111/j.0022-3506.2004.00256.x.
  • Beals, K. P., Peplau, L. A., & Gable, S. L. (2009). Stigma management and well-being: The role of perceived social support, emotional processing, and suppression. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 35, 867–879. doi:10.1177/0146167209334783.
  • Bell, A. P., Weinberg, M. S., & Hammersmith, S. K. (1981). Sexual preference: Its development in men and women (Vol. 2). Bloomington, IL: Indiana University Press.
  • Bellman, B. (1979). The paradox of secrecy. Human Studies, 4(1), 1–24. doi:10.1007/BF02127445.
  • Bohan, J. S. (1996). Psychology and sexual orientation: Coming to terms. New York, NY: Routledge.
  • Bosson, J. K., Weaver, J. R., & Prewitt-Freilino, J. L. (2012). Concealing to belong, revealing to be known: Classification expectations and self-threats among persons with concealable stigmas. Self and Identity, 11, 114–135. doi:10.1080/15298868.2010.513508.
  • Buhrmester, M., Kwang, T., & Gosling, S. D. (2011). Amazon's mechanical turk: A new source of inexpensive, yet high-quality data?. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 6, 3–5. doi:10.1177/1745691610393980.
  • Cain, R. (1991). Relational contexts and information management among gay men. Families in Society, 72, 344–352.
  • Cass, V. C. (1984). Homosexual identity formation: Testing a theoretical model. Journal of Sex Research, 20, 143–167. doi:10.1080/00224498409551214.
  • Chaudoir, S. R., & Fisher, J. D. (2010). The disclosure processes model: Understanding disclosure decision making and postdisclosure outcomes among people living with a concealable stigmatized identity. Psychological bulletin, 136, 236–256. doi:10.1037/a0018193.
  • Chaudoir, S. R., & Quinn, D. M. (2010). Revealing concealable stigmatized identities: The impact of disclosure motivations and positive first-disclosure experiences on fear of disclosure and well-being. Journal of Social Issues, 66, 570–584. doi:10.1111/j.1540-4560.2010.01663.x.
  • Cole, S. W., Kemeny, M. E., & Taylor, S. E. (1997). Social identity and physical health: Accelerated HIV progression in rejection-sensitive gay men. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 72, 320–335. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.72.2.320.
  • Cole, S. W., Kemeny, M. E., Taylor, S. E., & Visscher, B. R. (1996). Elevated physical health risk among gay men who conceal their homosexual identity. Health Psychology, 15, 243–251. doi:10.1037/0278-6133.15.4.243.
  • Consolacion, T. B., Russell, S. T., & Sue, S. (2004). Sex, race/ethnicity, and romantic attractions: Multiple minority status adolescents and mental health. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 10, 200–214. doi:10.1037/1099-9809.10.3.200.
  • Critcher, C. R., & Ferguson, M. J. (2014). The cost of keeping it hidden: Decomposing concealment reveals what makes it depleting. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 143, 721–735.
  • Crocker, J., Major, B., & Steele, C. (1998). Social stigma. In D. Gilbert & S. Fiske (Eds.), Handbook of Social Psychology (Vol. 2, 4th ed., pp. 504–551). New York, NY: McGraw Hill.
  • D'Augelli, A. R. (2002). Mental health problems among lesbian, gay, and bisexual youths ages 14 to 21. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 7, 433–456. doi:10.1177/1359104502007003039.
  • D'Augelli, A. R. (2006). Developmental and contextual factors and mental health among lesbian, gay, and bisexual youths. In A. M. Omoto & H. S. Kurtzman (Eds.), Sexual orientation and mental health: Examining identity and development in lesbian, gay, and bisexual people (pp. 37–53). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
  • D'Augelli, A. R., & Hershberger, S. L. (1993). Lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth in community settings: Personal challenges and mental health problems. American Journal of Community Psychology, 21, 421–448. doi:10.1007/BF00942151.
  • D'Augelli, A. R., Hershberger, S. L., & Pilkington, N. W. (1998). Lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth and their families: Disclosure of sexual orientation and its consequences. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 68, 361–371. doi:10.1037/h0080345.
  • Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (1985). Intrinsic motivation and self-determination in human behavior. New York, NY: Plenum.
  • Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (2000). The “what” and “why” of goal pursuits: Human needs and the self-determination of behavior. Psychological Inquiry, 11, 227–268. doi:10.1207/S15327965PLI1104_01.
  • D'Emilio, J. (1983). Capitalism and gay identity. Section I: Culture, Society and Sexuality 11 Part 1: Conceptual Frameworks, 13, 239–247.
  • Diener, E. (2000). Subjective well-being: The science of happiness and a proposal for a national index. American Psychologist, 55, 34.
  • Evans, N. J., & D'Augelli, A. R. (1996). Lesbians, gay men, and bisexual people in college. In R. C. Savin-Williams & K. M. Cohen (Eds.), The lives of lesbians, gays, and bisexuals: Children to adults (pp. 201–226). Fort Worth, TX: Harcourt Brace College.
  • Faulkner, A. H., & Cranston, K. (1998). Correlates of same-sex sexual behavior in a random sample of Massachusetts high school students. American Journal of Public Health, 88, 262–266. doi:10.2105/AJPH.88.2.262.
  • Frable, D. E. S. (1993). Dimensions of marginality: Distinctions among those who are different. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 19, 370–380. doi:10.1177/0146167293194002.
  • Frable, D. E. S., Platt, L., & Hoey, S. (1998). Concealable stigmas and positive self-perceptions: Feeling better around similar others. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 74, 909–922. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.74.4.909.
  • Frijda, N. H. (1988). The laws of emotion. American psychologist, 43, 349–358. doi:10.1037/0003-066X.43.5.349.
  • Goffman, E. (1963). Stigma: Notes on the management of spoiled identity. Engelwood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.
  • Greene, K., Derlega, V. J., & Matthews, A. (2006). Self-disclosure in personal relationships. In A. L. Vangelisti & D. Perlman (Eds.), Cambridge handbook of personal relationships. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press.
  • Grolnick, W. S., & Ryan, R. M. (1989). Parent styles associated with children's self-regulation and competence in school. Journal of Educational Psychology, 81, 143–154. doi:10.1037/0022-0663.81.2.143.
  • Gross, J. J., & Levenson, R. W. (1993). Emotional suppression: Physiology, self-report, and expressive behavior. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 64, 970–986. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.64.6.970.
  • Gross, L. (1999). Contested closets: The politics and ethics of outing. In L. P. Gross & J. D. Voods (Eds.), The Columbia Reader on Lesbians and Gay Men in Media, Society, and Politics (pp. 421–428). New York: Columbia University Press.
  • Grov, C., Bimbi, D. S., NaníN, J. E., & Parsons, J. T. (2006). Race, ethnicity, gender, and generational factors associated with the coming-out process among gay, lesbian, and bisexual individuals. Journal of Sex Research, 43, 115–121. doi:10.1080/00224490609552306.
  • Hayes, A. F., & Preacher, K. J. (2014). Statistical mediation analysis with a multicategorical independent variable. British Journal of Mathematical and Statistical Psychology, 67, 451–470.
  • Herek, G. M. (2000). The psychology of sexual prejudice. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 9, 19–22. doi:10.1111/1467-8721.00051.
  • Herek, G. M. (2009). Hate crimes and stigma-related experiences among sexual minority adults in the united states: Prevalence estimates from a national probability sample. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 24, 54–74. doi:10.1177/0886260508316477.
  • Herek, G. M., & Capitanio, J. P. (1996). “Some of my best friends” intergroup contact, concealable stigma, and heterosexuals' attitudes toward gay men and lesbians. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 22, 412–424. doi:10.1177/0146167296224007.
  • Hershberger, S. L., Pilkington, N. W., & D'Augelli, A. R. (1997). Predictors of suicide attempts among gay, lesbian, and bisexual youth. Journal of Adolescent Research, 12, 477–497. doi:10.1177/0743554897124004.
  • Hetrick, E. S., & Martin, A. D. (1987). Developmental issues and their resolution for gay and lesbian adolescents. Journal of Homosexuality, 14, 25–43. doi:10.1300/J082v14n01_03.
  • Igartua, K. J., Gill, K., & Montoro, R. (2003). Internalized homophobia: A factor in depression, anxiety, and suicide in the gay and lesbian population. Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health (Revue canadienne de santé mentale communautaire), 22, 15–30.
  • Imber-Black, E., Roberts, J., & Whiting, R. A. (1988). Rituals in families and family therapy. New York, NY: W.W. Norton.
  • Israel, T., & Mohr, J. J. (2004). Attitudes toward bisexual women and men. Journal of Bisexuality, 4, 117–134. doi:10.1300/J159v04n01_09.
  • Johansson, W., & Percy, W. (1994). Outing: Shattering the conspiracy of silence. New York, NY: Harrington Park Press.
  • Johnson, K. L., Gill, S., Reichman, V., & Tassinary, L. G. (2007). Swagger, sway, and sexuality: Judging sexual orientation from body motion and morphology. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 93, 321–334. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.93.3.321.
  • Jones, E. E., Farina, A., Hastorf, A. H., Markus, H., Miller, D. T., & Scott, R. A. (1984). Social stigma: The psychology of marked relationships. New York, NY: Freeman.
  • Joussemet, M., Landry, R., & Koestner, R. (2008). A self-determination theory perspective on parenting. Canadian Psychology, 49, 194–200. doi:10.1037/a0012754.
  • Juster, R. P., Smith, N. G., Ouellet, É., Sindi, S., & Lupien, S. J. (2013). Sexual orientation and disclosure in relation to psychiatric symptoms, diurnal cortisol, and allostatic load. Psychosomatic Medicine, 75, 103–116. doi:10.1097/PSY.0b013e3182826881.
  • Karpel, M. A. (1980). Family secrets:. I. Conceptual and ethical issues in the relational context. II. Ethical and practical considerations in therapeutic management. Family Process, 19, 295–306. doi:10.1111/j.1545-5300.1980.00295.x.
  • La Guardia, J. G., & Patrick, H. (2008). Self-determination theory as a fundamental theory of close relationships. Canadian Psychology/Psychologie Canadienne, 49, 201–209. doi:10.1037/a0012760.
  • La Guardia, J. G., Ryan, R. M., Couchman, C. E., & Deci, E. L. (2000). Within-person variation in security of attachment: A self-determination theory perspective on attachment, need fulfillment, and well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 79, 367–384. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.79.3.367.
  • LaMar, L., & Kite, M. (1998). Sex differences in attitudes toward gay men and lesbians: A multidimensional perspective. Journal of Sex Research, 35, 189–196. doi:10.1080/00224499809551932.
  • Leary, M. R., & Baumeister, R. F. (2000). The nature and function of self-esteem: Sociometer theory. Advances in Experimental Social Psychology, 32, 1–62.
  • Legate, N., Ryan, R. M., & Weinstein, N. (2012). Is coming out always a “good thing”? Exploring the relations of autonomy support, outness, and wellness for lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals. Social Psychological and Personality Science, 3, 145–152. doi:10.1177/1948550611411929.
  • Lynch, M. F., La Guardia, J. G., & Ryan, R. M. (2009). On being yourself in different cultures: Ideal and actual self-concept, autonomy support, and well-being in China, Russia, and the United States. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 4, 290–304. doi:10.1080/17439760902933765.
  • Lynch, M. F., & Ryan, R. M. (2004). On being yourself: Consistency versus authenticity of self-concept in cultural and interpersonal contexts. In H. W. Marsh, J. Baumert, G. E. Richards, & U. Trautwein (Eds.), Self-concept, motivation and identity: Where to from here? Proceedings of the third international biennial SELF research conference, Berlin. SELF Research Centre, University of Western Sydney, Australia.
  • MacKinnon, D. P. (2008). Introduction to statistical mediation analysis. Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.
  • Major, B., Cozzarelli, C., Sciacchitano, A. M., Cooper, M. L., Testa, M., & Mueller, P. M. (1990). Perceived social support, self-efficacy, and adjustment to abortion. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 59, 452–463. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.59.3.452.
  • Major, B., Zubek, J. M., Cooper, M. L., Cozzarelli, C., & Richards, C. (1997). Mixed messages: implications of social conflict and social support within close relationships for adjustment to a stressful life event. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 72, 1349–1363. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.72.6.1349.
  • Mays, V. M., & Cochran, S. D. (2001). Mental health correlates of perceived discrimination among lesbian, gay, and bisexual adults in the United States. Journal Information, 91, 1869–1876.
  • McGregor, B. A., Carver, C. S., Antoni, M. H., Weiss, S., Yount, S., & Ironson, G. (2001). Distress and internalized homophobia among lesbian women treated for early stage breast cancer. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 25(1), 1–9. doi:10.1111/1471-6402.00001.
  • McLean, K. (2007). Hiding in the closet?: Bisexuals, coming out and the disclosure imperative. Journal of Sociology, 43, 151–166. doi:10.1177/1440783307076893.
  • Mohr, J. J., & Fassinger, R. E. (2000). Measuring dimensions of lesbian and gay male experience. Measurement and Evaluation in Counseling and Development, 33, 66–90.
  • Morris, J. F., Waldo, C. R., & Rothblum, E. D. (2001). A model of predictors and outcomes of outness among lesbian and bisexual women. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 71, 61–71. doi:10.1037/0002-9432.71.1.61.
  • Ochs, R. (1996). Biphobia: It goes more than two ways. In B. A. Firestein (Ed.), Bisexuality: The psychology and politics of an invisible minority (pp. 240–259). Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
  • Oetjen, H., & Rothblum, E. D. (2000). When lesbians aren't gay. Journal of Homosexuality, 39, 49–73. doi:10.1300/J082v39n01_04.
  • Pachankis, J. E. (2007). The psychological implications of concealing a stigma: A cognitive-affective-behavioral model. Psychological Bulletin, 133, 328–345. doi:10.1037/0033-2909.133.2.328.
  • Pennebaker, J. W., & Chung, C. K. (2011). Expressive writing and its links to mental and physical health. In H. S. Friedman (Ed.), Oxford handbook of health psychology (pp. 417–437). New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
  • Quinn, D. M., & Earnshaw, V. A. (2013). Concealable stigmatized identities and psychological well-being. Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 7, 40–51. doi:10.1111/spc3.12005.
  • Radloff, L. S. (1977). The ces-d scale: A self-report depression scale for research in the general population. Applied Psychological Measurement, 1, 385–401. doi:10.1177/014662167700100306.
  • Ragins, B. R. (2004). Sexual orientation in the workplace: The unique work and career experiences of gay, lesbian and bisexual workers. Research in Personnel and Human Resources Management, 23, 35–120.
  • Richer, S. F., Blanchard, C., & Vallerand, R. J. (2002). A motivational model of work turnover. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 32, 2089–2113. doi:10.1111/j.1559-1816.2002.tb02065.x.
  • Rogers, C. R. (1961). On becoming a person. Boston, MA: Houghton–Mifflin.
  • Rosenberg, M. (1979). Conceiving the Self. New York, NY: Basic Books.
  • Roth, G., Assor, A., Niemiec, C. P., Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (2009). The emotional and academic consequences of parental conditional regard: Comparing conditional positive regard, conditional negative regard, and autonomy support as parenting practices. Developmental Psychology, 45, 1119–1142. doi:10.1037/a0015272.
  • Rudd, N. A. (1996). Appearance and self-presentation research in gay consumer cultures: Issues and impact. Journal of Homosexuality, 31, 134.
  • Rule, N. O., Ambady, N., Adams, R. B., & Macrae, C. N. (2008). Accuracy and awareness in the perception and categorization of male sexual orientation. Journal of personality and social psychology, 95, 1019–1028. doi:10.1037/a0013194.
  • Rule, N. O., Ambady, N., & Hallett, K. C. (2009). Female sexual orientation is perceived accurately, rapidly, and automatically from the face and its features. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 45, 1245–1251. doi:10.1016/j.jesp.2009.07.010.
  • Russell, S. T., & Seif, H. (2001). Bisexual female adolescents. Journal of Bisexuality, 2, 73–94. doi:10.1300/J159v02n02_05.
  • Rust, P. C. (1993). “Coming out” in the age of social constructionism: Sexual identity formation among lesbian and bisexual women. Gender & Society, 7, 50–77. doi:10.1177/089124393007001004.
  • Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (2000). Self-determination theory and the facilitation of intrinsic motivation, social development, and well-being. American Psychologist, 55, 68–78. doi:10.1037/0003-066X.55.1.68.
  • Ryan, R. M., La Guardia, J. G., Solky-Butzel, J., Chirkov, V., & Kim, Y. (2005). On the interpersonal regulation of emotions: Emotional reliance across gender, relationships, and cultures. Personal Relationships, 12, 145–163. doi:10.1111/j.1350-4126.2005.00106.x.
  • Savin-Williams, R. C. (1989). Coming out to parents and self-esteem among gay and lesbian youths. Journal of Homosexuality, 18(1-2), 1–35. doi:10.1300/J082v18n01_01.
  • Savin-Williams, R. C. (1990). Gay and lesbian youth: Expressions of identity. Washington, DC: Hemisphere Publishing Corp.
  • Savin-Williams, R. C., Dubé, E. M., Dube, E. M.. (1998). Parental reactions to their child's disclosure of a gay/lesbian identity. Family Relations, 47, 7–13. doi:10.2307/584845.
  • Shils, E. A. (1956). The torment of secrecy: The background and consequences of American security policies. London: Heinemann.
  • Smart, L., & Wegner, D. M. (2000). The hidden costs of stigma. In T. F. Heatherton, R. E. Kleck, M. R. Hebl, & J. G. Hull (Eds.), The Social Psychology of Stigma (pp. 220–242). New York: Guilford Press.
  • Suicide Prevention Resource Center. (2008). Suicide risk and prevention for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth. Newton, MA: Education Development Center.
  • The Pew Research Center. (2011). A survey of LGBT Americans: Attitudes, experiences and values in changing times. Washington, DC: Pew Research Center.
  • Troiden, R. R. (1988). Homosexual identity development. Journal of Adolescent Health Care, 9, 105–113. doi:10.1016/0197-0070(88)90056-3.
  • Ullrich, P. M., Lutgendorf, S. K., & Stapleton, J. T. (2003). Concealment of homosexual identity, social support and CD4 cell count among HIV-seropositive gay men. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 54, 205–212. doi:10.1016/S0022-3999(02)00481-6.
  • Vansteenkiste, M., & Ryan, R. M. (2013). On psychological growth and vulnerability: Basic psychological need satisfaction and need frustration as a unifying principle. Journal of Psychotherapy Integration, 23, 263.
  • Weinstein, N., Ryan, W. S., DeHaan, C. R., Przybylski, A. K., Legate, N., & Ryan, R. M. (2012). Parental autonomy support and discrepancies between implicit and explicit sexual identities: Dynamics of self-acceptance and defense. Journal of Personality & Social Psychology, 102, 815–832. doi:10.1037/a0026854.
  • Wells, J. W., & Kline, W. B. (1987). Self-disclosure of homosexual orientation. Journal of Social Psychology, 127, 191–197. doi:10.1080/00224545.1987.9713679.
  • Williams, G. C., Grow, V. M., Freedman, Z. R., Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (1996). Motivational predictors of weight loss and weight-loss maintenance. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 70, 115–126. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.70.1.115.
  • Williams, K. D., Forgas, J. P., & von Hippel, W. (Eds.), (2005). The social outcast: Ostracism, social exclusion, rejection, and bullying. New York, NY: Psychology Press.

Reprints and Corporate Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

To request a reprint or corporate permissions for this article, please click on the relevant link below:

Academic Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

Obtain permissions instantly via Rightslink by clicking on the button below:

If you are unable to obtain permissions via Rightslink, please complete and submit this Permissions form. For more information, please visit our Permissions help page.