We've noticed that you're using an ad blocker

Our content is brought to you free of charge because of the support of our advertisers. To continue enjoying our content, please turn off your ad blocker.

It's off now Dismiss How do I disable my ad blocker?
❌

How to disable your ad blocker for our site:

Adblock / Adblock Plus
  • Click on the AdBlock / AdBlock Plus icon on the top right of your browser.
  • Click “Don’t run on pages on this domain.” OR “Enabled on this site.”
  • Close this help box and click "It's off now".
Firefox Tracking Prevention
  • If you are Private Browsing in Firefox, "Tracking Protection" may casue the adblock notice to show. It can be temporarily disabled by clicking the "shield" icon in the address bar.
  • Close this help box and click "It's off now".
Ghostery
  • Click the Ghostery icon on your browser.
  • In Ghostery versions < 6.0 click “Whitelist site.” in version 6.0 click “Trust site.”
  • Close this help box and click "It's off now".
uBlock / uBlock Origin
  • Click the uBlock / uBlock Origin icon on your browser.
  • Click the “power” button in the menu that appears to whitelist the current website
  • Close this help box and click "It's off now".
  • Topics
  • CME
  • Special Reports
  • Slideshows
  • Quizzes
  • Blogs
  • Conferences
  • Classifieds
  • Archives

Modern Medicine Network
  • Login
  • Register
Skip to main content
Modern Medicine Network
  • Login
  • Register
Menu
User
Home
  • Topics
  • CME
  • Special Reports
  • Slideshows
  • Quizzes
  • Blogs
  • Conferences
  • Classifieds
  • Archives

SUBSCRIBE: eNewsletter

Sexual Minority Identity Development

  • Cynthia J. Telingator, MD
  • Kelly T. Woyewodzic, MD
Dec 16, 2011
Volume: 
28
Issue: 
12
  • Child Adolescent Psychiatry, Cultural Psychiatry, Gender Issues, Sexual Addiction, Addiction, Alcohol Abuse

Sexual identity development is a complex, multidimensional, and often fluid process. One must consider cognitive, social, emotional, cultural, and familial complexities among other aspects of the individual’s experience to contextualize a narrative concerning sexual identity development.

Sexual minority youth is a term used to describe adolescents who are not exclusively heterosexual. Definitions and labels ascribed to sexual minority youth may not describe their sexual attractions, relationships, fantasies, or behaviors. It is important to understand an individual’s personal experience as well as his or her self-identification without making assumptions.

The Internet, public discourse about “gay rights,” Gay-Straight Alliances in the schools, and a growing visibility of gay and lesbian role models in the media have helped challenge mainstream notions of what is considered “normal” sexual development. The fluidity of adolescent sexual identity development is as complicated as any aspect of identity development. Adolescents in the 21st century are, in many parts of the world, growing up in a culture that embraces diversity in sexual expression in a manner foreign to their parents’ generation. Despite the fact that sexual minority youth have greater access to resources that provide support than did previous generations, there continue to be schools, communities, and homes in which adolescents still experience rejection, bullying, ostracism, and violence because of their differences from mainstream society.

As child and adolescent clinicians, we often see the most vulnerable youth. This vulnerability occurs secondarily to the complex interactions of adolescents within their family, their culture, and society. Therapy for adolescents should explore friendships and romantic and sexual relationships, as well as attractions. Clinicians should be aware of the research that has shown that there are higher rates of mental health risks in sexual minority adolescent populations. Both protective and risk factors for healthy emotional and physical development need to be understood.

Risk assessment

When assessing risk for sexual minority youth, consider the defenses used to cope with both internal and external stressors. Fear of stigma, rejection, and other ramifications can lead sexual minority adolescents to defensive compartmentalization to protect and hide their sexual identity. This compartmentalization can affect normal development and impede overall identity development.

Compartmentalizing may be a conscious or unconscious mechanism that helps sexual minority adolescents cope with rejection by family members, peers, communities, and religious affiliations. They may fear harm or may already have been the target of violence and emotional abuse. A segment of these youths may be at higher risk for mental health issues because they may not have developed the internal coping mechanisms or they may lack social support and community to help them face these challenges.

Child and adolescent psychiatrists, as well as other clinicians, can play an important role by identifying those who are at risk for mental health problems and by providing support and treatment when needed.

The development of sexual identity

Sexual behavior in adolescence and one’s identity as heterosexual, gay, lesbian, or bisexual may change over time. “The fluidity of sexual desire, behavior, and identity may be a fundamental characteristic of sexuality during the teenage years.”1(ppxi,323) Complicated cultural and social identities influence sexual identity as well, but not necessarily sexual behavior.

Savin-Williams and Diamond2 compared the sexes and looked at sexual identity trajectories among sexual minority youth. They concluded that differences among youths cannot be explained by gender alone. “No singular sexual identity model is capable of representing the diverse trajectories of male and female sexual identity development.”2 These researchers found that the context for sexual identity development is more likely to be emotionally oriented for female adolescents and sexually oriented for male adolescents.2 Diamond has written extensively on the development of female same-sex orientation. Women appear more likely than men to exhibit situational and environmental plasticity in sexual attractions, behavior, and identifications.3

Developmental considerations

Attitudes toward homosexuality have shifted in our culture and in politics. In 1973, homosexuality was deleted from DSM. This followed the Stonewall Rebellion in 1969, when the visibility of the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered community was greater in the media. The social movement that began at that time has accelerated with the help of popular culture. Six states have legalized same-sex marriage in the past 5 years.

Although the dominant culture is changing, each adolescent may or may not find like-minded individuals and communities for external support who can help navigate internal conflicts that may arise when one recognizes that one is “different” from the dominant culture and, in most cases, “different” from one’s parents.

Pages

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • next ›
  • last »
References: 

References

1. Omoto AM, Kurtzman HS, eds. Sexual Orientation and Mental Health: Examining Identity and Development in Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual People. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association; 2006.
2. Savin-Williams RC, Diamond LM. Sexual identity trajectories among sexual-minority youths: gender comparisons. Arch Sex Behav. 2000;29:607-627.
3. Diamond LM. A new view of lesbian subtypes: stable vs fluid identity trajectories over an 8-year period. Psychol Women Q. 2005;29:119-128.
4. Glover JA, Galliher RV, Lamere TG. Identity development and exploration among sexual minority adolescents: examination of a multidimensional model. J Homosex. 2009;56:77-101.
5. Rosario M, Schrimshaw EW, Hunter J, Gwadz M. Gay-related stress and emotional distress among gay, lesbian, and bisexual youths: a longitudinal examination. J Consult Clin Psychol. 2002;70:967-975.
6. Russell ST, Joyner K. Adolescent sexual orientation and suicide risk: evidence from a national study. Am J Public Health. 2001;91:1276-1281.
7. Gibson P. Gay and lesbian youth suicide. In: Feinlieb MR, ed. Prevention and Intervention in Youth Suicide. Report of the Secretary’s Task Force on Youth Suicide. Vol 3. Washington, DC: US Dept of Health and Human Services; 1989.
8. Garofalo R, Wolf RC, Kessel S, et al. The association between health risk behaviors and sexual orientation among a school-based sample of adolescents. Pediatrics. 1998;101:895-902.
9. Eisenberg ME, Resnick MD. Suicidality among gay and lesbian and bisexual youth: the role of protective factors. J Adolesc Health. 2006;39:662-668.
10. Jamil OB, Harper GW, Fernandez MI; Adolescent Trials Network for HIV/AIDS Interventions. Sexual and ethnic identity development among gay-bisexual-questioning (GBQ) male ethnic minority adolescents. Cult Divers Ethnic Minor Psychol. 2009;15:203-214.
11. Diaz EM, Kosciw JG. Shared Differences: The Experiences of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Students of Color in Our Nation’s Schools. A report released by GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network; 2009.
12. D’Augelli AR, Hershberger SL. Lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth in community settings: personal challenges and mental health problems. Am J Community Psychol. 1993;21:421-448.
13. Remafedi G. Death by Denial: Studies of Suicide in Gay and Lesbian Teenagers. Boston: Alyson Publications; 1994:205.
14. Ryan C, Huebner D, Diaz RM, Sanchez J. Family rejection as a predictor of negative health outcomes in white and Latino lesbian, gay, and bisexual young adults. Pediatrics. 2009;123;346-352.
15. Kruks G. Gay and lesbian homeless/street youth: special issues and concerns. J Adolesc Health. 1991;12:515-518.
16. Ueno K. Sexual orientation and psychological distress in adolescence: examining interpersonal stressors and social support process. Soc Psychol Q. 2005;68:258-277.
17. Savin-Williams RC. Verbal and physical abuse as stressors in the lives of lesbian, gay male, and bisexual youths: associations with school problems, running away, substance abuse, prostitution, and suicide. J Consult Clin Psychol. 1994;62:261-269.

Related Articles

  • Eulogizing a Psychiatrist Innovator
  • Should Americans Be Happier Than They Are?
  • Psychiatry Update: March 2018
  • Psychiatry Update: In Case You Missed It
  • Cultural Perspectives on Migration and Psychopathology

Resource Topics rightRail

  • Resource Topics
  • Partner Content
ADHD
Schizophrenia
Bipolar Disorder
Geriatric Psychiatry
Major Depressive Disorder
Smart IOP – A New Kind of Intensive Outpatient Program
Three Things Mental Health Professionals Need to Know About Telemedicine – TODAY!
How Telemedicine Can Transform Patient Engagement

Current Issue

Psychiatric Times Vol 35 No 3
Mar 12, 2018 Vol 32 No 3
Digital Edition
Subscribe
Connect with Us
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • LinkedIn
  • RSS
Modern Medicine Network
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Advertiser Terms
  • Privacy statement
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Editorial & Advertising Policy
  • Editorial Board
  • Contact Us
Modern Medicine Network
© UBM 2018, All rights reserved.
Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited.