LGBTQ+ Youth Identity Disclosure Processes: A Systematic Review
Date
2024-06-07
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Adolescent Research Review
Abstract
Disclosure, as a complex social process, profoundly influences the well-being of LGBTQ + youth. This study, guided by the disclosure process model, systematically reviews and synthesizes LGBTQ + youth disclosure literature, considering it as a developmental, multi-component process across various contexts. After screening 5,433 articles, 29 studies were identified, focusing on identity-disclosure processes among LGBTQ + youth aged 26 or younger. These studies were scrutinized for disclosure process components, individual and contextual factors shaping disclosure, and potential bias. Findings reveal a predominant focus on avoidance goals (e.g., fear of rejection, LGBTQ + stigma) rather than approach goals (e.g., seeking belonging, authenticity) in studies examining the disclosure decision-making process. Reactions to disclosures were often mixed, initially leaning negative but evolving positively over time. Mental health emerged as the most studied outcome of disclosure. Additionally, disclosure processes were shaped by disclosure recipients, social context, and cultural beliefs. In conclusion, research on LGBTQ + youth disclosure is advancing and evolving, with increasing attention to disclosure goals and outcomes. Rather than viewing disclosure as a singular event, this review underscores LGBTQ + youth identity disclosure as a complex, developmental process extending over time and across diverse contexts.
Description
This article was originally published in Adolescent Research Review. The version of record is available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40894-024-00243-1.
© The Author(s) 2024.
Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article's Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article's Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.
This research was featured in UDaily on 10/10/2024 at: https://www.udel.edu/udaily/2024/october/mousavi-layland-disclosure-LGBTQ-national-coming-out-day/
Keywords
disclosure, LGBTQ+, gender minority, disclosure processes model, sexual minority, youth
Citation
Mousavi, M., Chong, N., Earnshaw, V.A. et al. LGBTQ+ Youth Identity Disclosure Processes: A Systematic Review. Adolescent Res Rev (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40894-024-00243-1