Dual Impact: Outness and LGB Identity Formation on Mental Health

Sarah E. Feldman; A. Jordan Wright

doi:10.1080/10538720.2013.833066

Dual Impact: Outness and LGB Identity Formation on Mental Health

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Conflicting literature exists for the relationship among outness, sexual minority identity formation, and mental health among lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals. The present study examines the complex relationship among outness, identity, and mental health among 192 lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals collected from an online sample. The findings revealed that outness has a complex, dual impact on mental health. Specifically, outness was found to have both positive and negative consequences for mental health, with identity development accounting for the positive aspects of outness. Directions for future research and implications for clinicians are discussed.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	443-464
Number of pages	22
Journal	Journal of Gay and Lesbian Social Services
Volume	25
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/10538720.2013.833066
State	Published - Oct 2013

Keywords

bisexual
gay
lesbian
mental health
outness
sexual identity development

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Gender Studies
Sociology and Political Science

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10.1080/10538720.2013.833066

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Dual Impact: Outness and LGB Identity Formation on Mental Health

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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