We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Kept in the Closet: Structural Stigma and the Timing of Sexual Minority Developmental Milestones Across 28 European Countries.
- Authors
Layland, E. K.; Bränström, R.; Murchison, G. R.; Pachankis, J. E.
- Abstract
Structural stigma's role in lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) people's attainment of identity development milestones remains unknown. In a sample of 111,498 LGB people (ages 15 to 65+) living across 28 European countries, associations were investigated between structural stigma measured using an objective index of discriminatory country-level laws and policies affecting LGB people and the timing and pacing of LGB self-awareness, coming out, and closet duration, and subgroup differences in these associations. On average, self-awareness occurred at age 14.8 years old (SD = 5.1), coming out occurred at 18.5 years old (SD = 5.7), and the closet was 3.9 years long (SD = 4.9); thereby highlighting adolescence as a key period for sexual identity development and disclosure. Greater structural stigma was associated with higher odds of never coming out, later age of coming out, and longer closet duration. Gender identity, transgender identity, and sexual identity moderated associations between structural stigma and these developmental milestones. Reducing structural stigma can plausibly promote sexual identity development among LGB populations, especially during adolescence when identity related milestones are often attained.
- Subjects
EUROPE; SEXUAL orientation; BISEXUALITY; SOCIAL stigma; POLICY science research; GENDER identity; SELF-consciousness (Awareness); SEXUAL minorities; LGBTQ+ people; DESCRIPTIVE statistics; RESEARCH funding
- Publication
Journal of Youth & Adolescence, 2023, Vol 52, Issue 10, p2012
- ISSN
0047-2891
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s10964-023-01818-2