A latent profile analysis of perceived family reactions to youth LGBTQ identity.

Abstract

Family members’ reactions to youth identity disclosure are important predictors of well-being for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or questioning (LGBTQ) youth. To better understand potential variation within and across families’ current reactions, this study established latent profiles of family level reaction patterns and examined predictors and outcomes associated with these patterns. In 2011–2012, LGBTQ youth (N = 447, Mage = 18.8) rated their mother’s, father’s, brother’s, and sister’s reactions to their LGBTQ identity and reported their own depressive symptoms and self-esteem. Latent profile analysis tested patterns of family members’ reactions. Most participants reported either moderately positive reactions (49.2%) or very positive reactions (34.0%) from all family members, though 16.8% of youth reported negative reactions from all family members. Youth social positions and demographic factors predicted profile membership: transgender youth, youth-assigned male at birth, older age at first disclosure predicted membership in the negative family reaction profile, whereas gay youth, having a parent and/or sibling with an LGBTQ identity, coresidence with either mothers, fathers, or siblings, and more years since first disclosure predicted membership in the very positive family reaction profile. Multiracial youth and younger youth were more likely to be in the moderately positive family reaction profile. Youth in families characterized by negative reactions had higher depressive symptoms and lower self-esteem compared to those who reported moderately positive or very positive reactions. Findings underscore the interconnectedness of family members’ reactions and suggest that interventions for LGBTQ youth with rejecting and/or less accepting family members may need to target the entire family system.

Stress of being outed to parents, LGBTQ family support, and depressive symptoms among sexual and gender diverse youth

“…Some samples have found that nonbinary individuals disclose their identities at later ages than transgender individuals (Scandurra et al, 2021) and that bisexual individuals disclose their identities later than individuals with emerging sexual identities (Bishop et al, 2020). A recent latent class analysis also found that transgender youth were more likely to receive negative reactions from family members in response to disclosing their identity compared to cisgender sexual minority youth (McCurdy et al, 2023). As such, being outed likely unfolds differently between SGDY.…”

“…The relation between the stress of being outed to parents and LGBTQ family support is likely to vary across sexual and gender identities. For instance, SGDY who identify as transgender, nonbinary, bisexual, pansexual, queer, or asexual may exhibit greater stress after learning their identities have been outed to their parents, which may manifest through greater perceptions of parental rejection or invalidation of their identities (e.g., Simon et al, 2022;McCurdy et al, 2023; for a review, see Wittlin et al, 2023). Consequently, the indirect association of outed stress to parents and depressive symptoms through LGBTQ family support may be stronger for SGDY who identify with non-cisgender and emerging sexual identities (e.g., pansexual or queer).…”