A positive look at a difficult time: A strength based examination of coming out for lesbian and bisexual women

Journal of LGBT Health Research

Volumn 3, Issue 1, 2007, Pages 7-14

  Bonet, Lorelei ^a   Wells, Brooke E ^a   Parsons, Jeffrey T ^a,b  

^a CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK   (United States)

^b CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK   (United States)

Author keywords

Bisexual women; Coming out process; Identity transformation; Lesbians; Stress related growth

Indexed keywords

ADULT; AGED; ARTICLE; BISEXUAL FEMALE; COLOR; EDUCATION; ETHNICITY; FEMALE; GENDER IDENTITY; GROUPS BY AGE; HEALTH BEHAVIOR; HUMAN; LESBIAN; LIFE STRESS; MALE HOMOSEXUAL; MINORITY GROUP; SCORING SYSTEM; SEXUAL BEHAVIOR; SEXUAL ORIENTATION; SEXUALITY; UNITED STATES;

ADAPTATION, PSYCHOLOGICAL; ADOLESCENT; ADULT; AGED; BISEXUALITY; CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDIES; DATA COLLECTION; FEMALE; GENDER IDENTITY; HOMOSEXUALITY, FEMALE; HUMANS; MIDDLE AGED; PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTS; PSYCHOMETRICS; SEXUAL BEHAVIOR; SOCIAL IDENTIFICATION; STRESS, PSYCHOLOGICAL;

EID: 34249812357     PISSN: 15574091     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1300/J463v03n01_02     Document Type: Article

References (44)

1. Anderson, A. (1998). Strengths of gay male youth: An untold story. Child & Adolescent Social Work Journal, 15, 55-71.
2. Benotsch, E. G., Kalichman, S., & Cage, M. (2002). Men who have met sex partners via the Internet: Prevalence, predictors, and implications for HIV prevention. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 31, 177-183.
3. Bontempo, D. E., & D'Augelli, A. R. (2002). Effects of at-school victimization and sexual orientation on lesbian, gay, or bisexual youths' health risk behavior. Journal of Adolescent Health, 30, 364-374.
4. Carey,M. P., Braaten, L. S., Jaworski, B. C., Durant, L. E., & Forsyth, A. D. (1999). HIV and AIDS relative to other health, social, and relationship concerns among low-income women: A brief report. Journal of Women's Health and Gender Based Medicine, 8, 657-661.
5. Chen, S. Y., Gibson, S., Katz., M. H., Klausner, J. D., Dilley, J. W., Schwarcz, S. K., Kellogg, T. A., & McFarland, W. (2002). Continuing increases in sexual risk behavior and sexually transmitted diseases among men who have sex with men: San Francisco, Calif, 1999-2001. American Journal of Public Health, 92, 1387-1388.
6. Crocker, J., & Major, B. (1989). Social stigma and self-esteem: The self-protective properties of stigma. Psychological Review, 96, 608-630.
7. 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 Health, 21, 421-448.
8. Dank, B. M. (1971). Coming out in the gay world. Psychiatry, 34, 60-77.
9. Erikson, E. H. (1963). Childhood and society (2nd Ed.). New York: Norton.
10. Erikson, E. H. (1968). Identity: Youth and crisis. New York: Norton.
11. Erikson, E. H. (1974). Dimensions of a new identity. New York: Norton.
12. Fitzpatrick, K. K., Euton, S. J., Jones, J. N., & Schmidt, N. B. (2005). Gender role, sexual orientation and suicide risk. Journal of Affective Disorders, 87, 35-42.
13. Floyd, F. J., & Stein, T. S. (2002). Sexual orientation identity formation among gay, lesbian, and bisexual youths: Multiple patterns of milestone experiences. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 12, 167-191.
14. Halkitis, P. N., & Parsons, J. T. (2002). Recreational drug use and HIV-risk sexual behavior among men frequenting gay social venues. Journal of Gay & Lesbian Social Services, 14, 19-38.
15. Hendrick, S., & Hendrick, C. (1987). Multidimensionality of sexual attitudes. Journal of Sex Research, 23, 502-526.
16. Herdt, G. (1989). Gay and lesbian youth, emergent identities, and cultural scenes at home and abroad. In G. Herdt (Ed.), Gay and lesbian youth (1-4). New York: The Haworth Press.
17. Hetrick, E. S., & Martin, D. A. (1987). Developmental issues and their resolution for gay and lesbian adolescents. Journal of Homosexuality, 14, 25-43.
18. Joseph, K. M., Adib, S. M., Joseph, J. G., & Tal, M. (1991). Gay identity and risky sexual behavior related to the AIDS threat. Journal of Community Health, 16, 287-297.
19. Kalichman, S. C., Benotsch, E., Rompa, D., Gore-Felton, C., Austin, J., Luke, W. et al., (2001). Unwanted sexual experiences and sexual risks in gay and bisexual men: Associations among revictimization, substance use and psychiatric symptoms. Journal of Sex Research, 28, 1-9.
20. Kalichman, S. C., & Simbaya, L. (2004a). Sexual assault history and risks for sexually transmitted infections among women in an African township in Cape Town, South Africa. AIDS Care, 16, 681-689.
21. Kalichman, S. C., & Simbaya, L. (2004b). Traditional beliefs about the cause of AIDS and AIDS-related stigma in South Africa. AIDS Care, 16, 572-580.
22. Lewis, R. J., Derlega, V. J., Griffin, J. L., & Krowinski, A. C. (2003). Stressors for gay men and lesbians: Life stress, gay-related stress, stigma consciousness, and depressive symptoms. Journal of Social & Clinical Psychology, 22, 716-729.
23. Marcia, J. E. (1966). Development and validation of ego identity status. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 5, 551-558.
24. Martin, A. D., & Hetrick, E. S. (1988). The stigmatization of the gay and lesbian adolescent. Journal of Homosexuality, 15, 163-183.
25. Maton, K. I, Schellenbach, C. J., Leadbeater, B. J., & Solarz, A. L. (2004). Investing in children, youth, families, and communities: Strengths-based research and policy. Washington, D.C.: American Psychological Association.
26. McAdams, D. P., & de St. Aubin, E. (1992). A theory of generativity and its assessment through self-report, behavioral acts, and narrative themes in autobiography. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 62, 1003-1015.
27. McDonald, C., McIntyre, M., & Anderson, B. (2003). The view from somewhere: Locating lesbian experience in women's health. Health Care for Women International, 24, 697-711.
28. Miller, K. W., Wilder, L. B., Stillman, F. A., & Becker, D. M. (1997). The feasibility of a street-intercept survey method in an African-American community. American Journal of Public Health, 87, 655-658.
29. O'Donnell, L., Agronick, G., San Doval, A., Duran, R., Myint-U, A., & Stueve, A. (2002). Ethnic and gay community attachments and sexual risk behaviors among urban latino young men who have sex with men. AIDS Education and Prevention, 14, 457-471.
30. Park, C. L., Cohen, L. H., & Murch, R. L. (1996). Assessment and prediction of stress-related growth. Journal of Personality, 64, 71-105.
31. Ponse, B. (1978). The social construction of identity and its meanings within lesbian subculture. From identities in the lesbian world: The social construction of self. (109-133) Westport, CT: Greenwood Press.
32. Poorman, P. B. (2002). Perceptions of thriving by women who have experienced abuse of status-related oppression. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 26, 51-62.
33. Radkowsky, M., & Siegel, L. J. (1997). The gay adolescent: Stressors, adaptations, and psychosocial interventions. Clinical Psychology Review, 17, 191-216.
34. Rivers, I. (2004). Recollections of bullying at school and their long-term implications for lesbians, gay men, and bisexuals. The Journal of Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention, 25, 169-175.
35. Rosario, M., Rotheram-Borus, M. J., & Reid, H. (1996). Gay-related stress and its correlates among gay and bisexual male adolescents of predominantly Black and Hispanic background. Journal of Community Psychology, 24, 136-159.
36. Rosario, M., Schrimshaw, E. W., & Hunter, J. (2002). Gay-related stress and emotional distress among gay, lesbian and bisexual youths: A Longitudinal examination. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 70, 967-975.
37. Rosario, M., Schrimshaw, E. W., & Hunter, J. (2004). Ethnic/racial differences in the coming-out process of lesbian, gay, and bisexual youths: A Comparison of sexual identity development over time. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 10, 215-228.
38. Russell, S. T., Driscoll, A. K., & Truong, N. (2002). Adolescent same-sex romantic attractions and relationships: Implications for substance use and abuse. American Journal of Public Health, 92, 198-202.
39. Seibt, A. C., Ross, M. W., Freeman, A., Krepcho, M., Hedrich, A., McAlister, A., & Fernandez-Esquer, M. E. (1995). Relationship between safe sex and acculturation into the gay subculture. AIDS Care, 7, S85-S88.
40. Siegel, K., & Schrimshaw, E. W. (2000). Perceiving benefits in adversity: Stress-related growth in women living with HIV/AIDS. Social Science and Medicine, 51, 1543-1554.
41. Troiden, R. (1988). Gay and Lesbian Identity: A Sociological Analysis. New York, NY: General Hall.
42. Vincke, J., & Heeringen, K. van. (2002). Confidant support and the mental wellbeing of lesbian and gay young adults: A longitudinal analysis. Journal of Community & Applied Social Psychology, 12, 181-193.
43. Weiss, T. (2002). Posttraumatic growth in women with breast cancer and their husbands: An Intersubjective validation study. Journal of Psychosocial Oncology, 20, 65-80.
44. Wichstrom, L., & Hegna, K. (2003). Sexual orientation and suicide attempt:ALongitudinal study of the general Norwegian adolescent population. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 112, 144-151.