title: Retrospective coping strategies during sexual identity formation and current biopsychosocial stress.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Lesbian, gay men, and bisexual individuals (LGBs) often experience distress related to the recognition, self-acceptance, and disclosure of their sexual orientation.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Retrospectively reported coping strategies enacted during sexual identity formation among LGBs were assessed in relation to current stress indices measured using environmental (frequency of perceived daily hassles), psychological (perceived distress), and biological (allostatic load [AL] levels representing physiological dysregulations) perspectives.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-six healthy LGBs between the ages of 18 and 45 (M = 23.91, SE = .80) participated. Questionnaires included the Ways of Coping Checklist adapted to disclosure milestones, Daily Hassles Inventory, and Perceived Stress Scale. AL was calculated using 21 biomarkers of neuroendocrine, immune, cardiovascular, and metabolic functioning.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Avoidance coping during sexual identity formation was positively associated with frequency of daily hassles (β = .598, p < .001), perceived stress (β = .361, p = .015), and AL (β = .405, p = .006). By contrast, seeking social support was negatively associated with perceived stress (β = -.598, p = .048).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Emotion-focused coping strategies during LGB sexual identity development are associated with current indices of biopsychosocial stress.
authors.affiliation: a Centre for Studies on Human Stress , Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Montréal , 7401 Hochelaga, Pavilion Louis Riel, Montreal , QC H1N 3M5 , Canada.|b Integrated Program in Neuroscience , McGill University , Montreal , QC , Canada.
authors.forename: Robert-Paul
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Juster
authors.affiliation: c Department of Psychology , University of Montreal , Montreal , QC , Canada.|d Centre de recherche de l'Institut universitaire de gériatrie de Montréal , Montreal , QC , Canada.
authors.forename: Émilie
authors.initials: É
authors.lastname: Ouellet
authors.affiliation: e Department of Social Work , University of Quebec in Montreal , Montreal , QC , Canada.
authors.forename: Jean-Philippe
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Lefebvre-Louis
authors.affiliation: f Neurology and Neurosurgery , McGill University , Montréal , QC H3A 0G4 , Canada.
authors.forename: Shireen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sindi
authors.affiliation: g Center for Sexual Health, Department of Family Medicine and Community Health , University of Minnesota Medical School , Minneapolis , MN , USA.
authors.forename: Philip Jai
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.affiliation: h Department of Educational Psychology , University of Houston , Houston , TX , USA.
authors.forename: Nathan Grant
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: a Centre for Studies on Human Stress , Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Montréal , 7401 Hochelaga, Pavilion Louis Riel, Montreal , QC H1N 3M5 , Canada.|i Department of Psychiatry , University of Montreal , Montreal , QC , Canada.
authors.forename: Sonia J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Lupien
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001727:Bisexuality / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D006716:Homosexuality / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: allostatic load; coping strategies; daily hassles; perceived stress; sexual orientation/identity; transdisciplinarity