Measurement equivalence of family acceptance/rejection among sexual and gender minority youth by disclosure status.

Abstract

Family acceptance is a crucial component of healthy development during adolescence, especially for sexual and gender minority youth (SGMY) who often fear rejection from family members. Studies focused on SGMY family environments often utilize broad measures that fail to capture SGMY-specific aspects of family acceptance and rejection. Less research has considered how the measurement of family acceptance and rejection might differ depending on whether SGMY have disclosed their sexual and/or gender identities to their parents. We used data from a national nonprobability sample of 9,127 SGMY in the United States who had either disclosed (n = 6,683) or not disclosed (n = 2,444) their sexual and/or gender identities to parents to test the factor structure of an eight-item measure of family acceptance and rejection and differences by disclosure status. A two-factor, negatively correlated model reflecting constructs of family acceptance and family rejection was equivalent across disclosure groups. Youth who had disclosed their identity reported greater acceptance and less rejection and showed a stronger negative association between the two constructs than nondisclosed youth. Family acceptance, but not rejection, had higher variability among disclosed youth than nondisclosed youth. Results suggest that the family environments of SGMY are simultaneously characterized by accepting and rejecting behaviors. Though families of disclosed youth appear to be more accepting and less rejecting, the experiences of these youth are complex. Findings suggest that research on SGMY family environment must consider both supportive and undermining behaviors and that the measures assessed here operate similarly for youth based on disclosure.

Parental support is not enough: How parental socialization theories can advance LGBTQ+ youth family research, practice, and health

“…There remains limited scientific focus on LGBTQ+ youth family environment and a narrow view of parent–child interactions regarding youths' SOGI (Allen et al, 2022; Pollitt et al, 2023). Racial‐ethnic socialization literature suggests that caregivers could elect to parent in ways that intentionally develop LGBTQ+ youth's adaptive strategies—to remain resilient in the face of adversity and stigma related to LGBTQ+ identity.…”

Sexual harassment, sexual assault, violence, self‐esteem, and the role of LGBTQ‐specific parental support in a sample of Latinx sexual and gender minority youth

“…LGBTQ‐specific parental support was measured using eight‐items modified from the Family Acceptance Project (see Miller et al, 2020; Pollitt et al, 2023). To date, this multi‐item scale is the most widely used scale to measure LGBTQ‐specific parental support among LGBTQ youth (Pollitt et al, 2023; Watson et al, 2020).…”

“…LGBTQ‐specific parental support was measured using eight‐items modified from the Family Acceptance Project (see Miller et al, 2020; Pollitt et al, 2023). To date, this multi‐item scale is the most widely used scale to measure LGBTQ‐specific parental support among LGBTQ youth (Pollitt et al, 2023; Watson et al, 2020). Participants responded to questions such as “How often do your parents say that they like you as you are in regard to being an LGBTQ person?,” “How often do your parents say they were proud of you for being an LGBTQ person?,” and “How often do your parents taunt or mock you because you are an LGBTQ person” (reverse coded), using a 5‐point Likert scale ranging from never (1) to often (4), with an option for doesn't apply to me , which was coded as missing.…”