Attributions and emotional reactions to the identity disclosure ("coming out") of a homosexual child

Sexual orientation and suicidal behaviour in adolescents and young adults: systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundResearch suggests that lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) adolescents have a higher risk of suicidal behaviours than their heterosexual peers, but little is known about specific risk factors.AimsTo assess sexual orientation as a risk factor for suicidal behaviours, and to identify other risk factors among LGB adolescents and young adults.MethodA systematic search was made of six databases up to June 2015, including a grey literature search. Population-based longitudinal studies considering non-clinical populations aged 12-26 years and assessing being LGB as a risk factor for suicidal behaviour compared with being heterosexual, or evaluating risk factors for suicidal behaviour within LGB populations, were included. Random effect models were used in meta-analysis.ResultsSexual orientation was significantly associated with suicide attempts in adolescents and youths (OR = 2.26, 95% CI 1.60-3.20). Gay or bisexual men were more likely to report suicide attempts compared with heterosexual men (OR = 2.21, 95% CI 1.21-4.04). Based on two studies, a non-significant positive association was found between depression and suicide attempts in LGB groups.ConclusionsSexual orientation is associated with a higher risk of suicide attempt in young people. Further research is needed to assess completed suicide, and specific risk factors affecting the LGB population.

A Systematic Review of Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Research Samples in Couple and Family Therapy Journals

The purpose of this study is to review samples from research on gay, lesbian, and bisexual (GLB) issues and to evaluate the suitability of this body of research to support affirmative and evidence-based practice with GLB clients. The authors systematically reviewed the sampling methodology and sample composition of GLB-related research. All original, quantitative articles focusing on GLB issues published in couple and family therapy (CFT)-related journals since 1975 were coded (n = 153). Results suggest that within the GLB literature base there is some evidence of heterocentrism as well as neglect of issues of class, race, and gender. Suggestions to improve the diversity and representativeness of samples-and, thus, clinical implications-of GLB-related research in CFT literature are provided.

Sexual Orientation and Borderline Personality Disorder Features in a Community Sample of Adolescents

Empirical literature demonstrates that sexual minorities are at an increased risk of developing psychopathology, including borderline personality disorder (BPD). The specific link between sexual orientation and BPD has received significantly less attention in youth, and it remains unclear what drives this relation. Given that there are higher rates of psychopathology in both sexual minorities and individuals with BPD, the present study aimed to determine if sexual orientation uniquely contributes to borderline personality pathology, controlling for other psychopathology. An ethnically diverse sample of 835 adolescents completed self-report measures of borderline features, depression, anxiety, and sexual orientation. Sexual minorities scored higher on borderline features compared to heterosexual adolescents. When controlling for depression and anxiety, sexual orientation remained significantly associated with borderline features. The relation between sexual orientation and BPD cannot fully be explained by other psychopathology. Future research is necessary to understand potential mechanisms underlying this relation.

The Poetics of Parent-Son Encounters Following Negative Parental Reactions to the Disclosure of Gay Identity

The disclosure of gay identity is considered an important step in the process of gay identity development. However, disclosure—especially to parents—is stressful for sexual minority individuals. Research suggests that most parents respond negatively to the news of their son’s gay identity, and that such negative reactions pose significant risks to that child’s well-being. In this article, the author presents selected findings from his dissertation research, a poetic inquiry into the lived experience of facing negative parental reactions to the disclosure of gay identity. The article begins with a review of the gay identity development, sexual minority stress, and family disclosure literature. Next, the author describes his selected method, poetic inquiry, as an approach to research that aligns with humanistic psychotherapy. In the results section, six poetic transcriptions detailing four participants’ narratives about postdisclosure interactions with parents provide an in-depth look at the challenge gay men face when negotiating negative parental reactions. Finally the article concludes with a brief summary and a discussion of the reasons that poetic inquiry was chosen for research on this topic.

Good versus poor therapeutic alliances with non-accepting parents of same-sex oriented adolescents and young adults: a qualitative study

OBJECTIVE

Therapeutic themes and processes associated with five good versus five poor parent-therapist alliances among a sample of non-accepting parents of sexual minority youth/young adults participating in family therapy were examined.

METHOD

The Consensual Qualitative Research approach was used to analyse of therapy notes and follow-up interviewsfrom good and poor alliances.

RESULTS

In good alliances, parents adopted relationship building as a goal, considered essentialist causal attributions of same-sex orientation, acknowledged positive aspects of their child, and perceived the therapist as empathic and accepting. Parents with poor alliances rejected relationship building as a goal, rebuffed essentialist causal attributions, dismissed the possibility of their own coming out, nullified positive aspects of their child, sought to change their child's sexual orientation, blamed therapists for validating their child's same-sex orientation, and pressured therapists for information about their child.

CONCLUSIONS

Clinical implications are discussed.

Negative public perceptions of juvenile diabetics: applying attribution theory to understand the public's stigmatizing views

Despite a rise in the incidence of juvenile diabetes globally, little research has focused on public perceptions regarding its patients. The need to evaluate whether the public holds stigmatizing views is pressing when one considers the relatively young age of the patients of the disease. The current study extends the attribution theoretic framework to evaluate public stigma regarding juvenile diabetes. The findings suggest that a large percentage of individuals misattribute the causes of the disease and believe it is relatively rare and that its patients are personally responsible for contracting it. Individuals often utilize pejorative terms describing juvenile diabetes as a disease afflicting children who are lazy, unhealthy, fat, obese, lacking exercise, and having eating disorders.

Advice When Children Come Out: The Cultural "Tool Kits" of Parents

The family is one of the main areas of social life where the normalization of gay/lesbian identity is incomplete. Most research analyzes the individual and psychological aspects of how families respond to children's disclosure of a gay/lesbian identity, and ignores the social, cultural, and historical contexts. An examination of the cultural discourses, tools, and strategies that are available to parents is necessary for a full understanding of how families respond to gay/lesbian children. We conduct an interpretive content analysis of 29 advice books in order to assess this cultural field and its institutional resources. We find three broad strategies offered to parents: relying on professionals for overcoming the grief of having a gay/lesbian child, normalizing gay/lesbian identity, and utilizing "good" parenting skills. We discuss how these strategies demonstrate the unsettled and often contradictory cultural field of gay/lesbian identity in the family and its implications for sexual identities beyond the closet.

The role of depression, shame-proneness, and guilt-proneness in predicting criticism of relatives towards people with bipolar disorder

Expressed emotion (EE) has been associated with poor patient outcomes in many different psychiatric disorders. Given its robust association with relapse, EE has become a major target of family psychoeducational interventions. Most psychoeducational interventions to date have failed to change EE levels among families of those with bipolar disorder. Better intervention strategies, then, may depend on an increased understanding of the predictors of EE. Although EE has traditionally included many facets, criticism appears to be the most robust predictor of outcome within bipolar disorder. The present study tested three primary predictors of criticism among family members of people with bipolar disorder: shame-proneness, guilt-proneness, and depression. Depressive symptoms were significantly associated with EE. Discussion focuses on limitations and implications of the study and suggestions for future research.