title: Coming Out and the Potential for Growth in Sexual Minorities: The Role of Social Reactions and Internalized Homonegativity.
abstract: Coming out is a significant and sometimes difficult process in the lives of sexual minorities, but disclosure can also affect wellbeing in positive ways, including reduced distress and greater relationship satisfaction. This study investigates the possibility of stress-related growth and depreciation following coming out. To obtain a diverse sample with varying coming-out experiences, data were collected from undergraduate students as well as from online sources, including lesbian, gay, and bisexual support groups and Pride groups. Regression analyses indicated that negative social reactions to coming out predicted both growth and depreciation, although they more strongly predicted depreciation. Positive social reactions were positively related to stress-related growth, while internalized homonegativity was inversely associated with growth. Although the two sample sources (online and campus) differed in some ways, sample source was not a significant predictor in the regressions, nor was it indicated as a moderator in exploratory ANOVA analyses.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychology , Central Michigan University , Mount Pleasant , Michigan , USA.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Solomon
authors.affiliation: b Department of Psychology , University of South Alabama , Mobile , Alabama , USA.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McAbee
authors.affiliation: c Department of Psychology , Western Carolina University , Cullowhee , North Carolina , USA.
authors.forename: Kia
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Åsberg
authors.affiliation: d School of Leadership and Educational Studies , University of San Diego , San Diego , California , USA.
authors.forename: Ashley
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: McGee
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003674:Defense Mechanisms; D005260:Female; D063509:Homophobia; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008913:Minority Groups / Q000523:psychology*; D012649:Self Concept; D012650:Self Disclosure; D000072339:Sexual and Gender Minorities / Q000523:psychology*; D012931:Social Environment; D013312:Stress, Physiological; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: LGB issues; coming out; depreciation; identity disclosure; resilience; stress-related growth; wellbeing