Exploring the Relationship Between Coming out and Identity Development for LGB Individuals

Background:  Identity formation is the process by which one becomes aware of developing sexual orientation, questioning whether one may be queer, and exploring that queer identity by becoming involved in queer social and/or sexual activities.  This process is typically known as coming-out.  The goal for the queer person is to experience a cohesive self as they move forward in coming to terms with who they are and their relationship to the world.  A few overarching themes can be distilled regarding the queer identity development process.  These themes are resistance, awareness of being different, questioning/exploration of feelings, acceptance of being different, and integration of a queer identity. 

In order to examine how identity formation is impacted by coming out, we compared results from individuals who identify as LGB and were totally out regarding their sexual orientation to those who identify as LBG but remained closeted in one or more areas of their lives.  We hypothesized that being totally out would improve a person’s identity development. 

Methods:  Study participants were recruited through social networking websites, community-based support groups, local pride centers, and direct e-mail list serves.  We had an n-size of 215, all of whom identified as LBG.  Testing was completed online through Survey Monkey.  The Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Identity Scale (LGBIS) is a 27-item, 7-point Likert scale, where a lower score equates to higher acceptance of an LGB identity measure.  The LGBIS is comprised of 6 subscales: Internalized Homonegativity, Need for Privacy, Need for Acceptance, Identity Confusion, Difficult Process, and Superiority. 

Results:  For the LGBIS, there as a significant difference in scores for those who are not out (M = 3.45, SD = .813) and those who are out (M = 2.5, SD = .567); t(113.5) = 8.941, p<.000, two-tailed.  The magnitude of the difference of the means (mean difference = .943, 95% CI: .734 to 1.15) was very large (eta squared = .273).  Therefore, those who are totally out have a stronger sense of having an LGB identity.  For 5 of the 6 subscales in the LGBIS, there was a significant difference for those who are totally out and those who were not.  Those who were not totally out showed an increase in internalized homonegativity, need for privacy, need for acceptance, and identity confusion.  Those were not totally out also showed increased difficulty with the coming out process. No significant difference was found in superiority between the two groups.

 

Implications:  Research has shown that coming out can improve a person’s mental health outcomes.  Research also shows that sexual minorities are at an increased risk for self-harm and suicide.  For practitioners working with individuals who identify as closeted and LGB, an understanding of this impact on the individual’s identity development is important.  Practitioners could work with individual’s regarding decreasing internalized homonegativity and identity confusion.  Doing so could lead to an increase in acceptance and a readiness to come out.  Practitioners should be careful not to push a person to come out who is not ready.