Journal
SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PERSONALITY SCIENCE
Volume 3, Issue 2, Pages 145-152Publisher
SAGE PUBLICATIONS INC
DOI: 10.1177/1948550611411929
Keywords
coming out; self-determination theory; gay; lesbian; bisexual
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Prior research suggests that, on average, disclosing sexual identity (being out) yields wellness benefits for lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals. LGB individuals vary, however, both in how much they disclose their sexual orientation in different social contexts and in the experiences that follow from disclosure. The present research examines this within-person variation in disclosure and its consequences as a function of the autonomy supportive versus controlling character of social contexts. LGB individuals rated experiences of autonomy support and control in the contexts of family, friends, coworkers, school, and religious community, as well how out they were, and their context-specific self-esteem, depression, and anger. Findings from multilevel modeling revealed that LGB individuals were more likely to disclose in autonomy supportive contexts. Additionally, whereas disclosure was associated with more positive well-being in autonomy supportive contexts, in controlling contexts it was not. Practical and research implications are discussed.
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