title: Stress-related growth, coming out, and internalized homonegativity in lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth. An examination of stress-related growth within the minority stress model.
abstract: This study investigates how young lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals deal with coming out and how perceived personal growth may result from that experience. We considered stress-related growth as a mediator between coming-out experiences and internalized homonegativity (IH). Our sample was taken from an online survey and is comprised of 502 LGBs aged 14-30. The social environment's acceptance of an individual's sexual orientation and the individual's social identification influence stress-related growth. Several coming-out indicators influence internalized homonegativity and, although growth perception does not function as a mediator between coming out and internalized homonegativity, it has a direct effect on IH.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sociology, Research team CuDOS, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium. Nele.Cox@UGent.be
authors.forename: Nele
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cox
authors.forename: Alexis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dewaele
authors.forename: Mieke
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: van Houtte
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vincke
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001530:Belgium; D001727:Bisexuality / Q000523:psychology*; D030881:Disclosure; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D018452:Homosexuality, Female / Q000523:psychology*; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D011287:Prejudice; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012649:Self Concept; D013240:Stereotyping; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology*