Emerging from the shadows: Lesbian, gay, and bisexual adolescents. Personal identity achievement, coming out, and sexual risk behaviors.
Item
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Title
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Emerging from the shadows: Lesbian, gay, and bisexual adolescents. Personal identity achievement, coming out, and sexual risk behaviors.
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Identifier
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AAI9630466
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identifier
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9630466
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Creator
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Hunter, Joyce.
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Contributor
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Adviser: Michael Smith
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Date
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1996
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Language
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English
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Publisher
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City University of New York.
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Subject
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Psychology, Developmental | Psychology, Behavioral | Health Sciences, Public Health
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Abstract
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This exploratory study examines relationships between sexual identity status, coming out, and HIV sexual risk behaviors among gay/lesbian/bisexual adolescents in New York City. During adolescence, personal identity achievement is a central task for all youth, including gay/lesbian/bisexual youth, and is also a period of risk taking. To understand this most vulnerable period in their lives, lesbian/gay/bisexual adolescents (76 females and 81 males, ages 14-21 (mean = 18.2) participated in a structured interview to assess sexual risk acts (prior three months). Sexual identity achievement (exploration and commitment), was examined in relation to both the coming-out process and HIV-risk behaviors. The coming-out process was also studied in relation to HIV risk sexual behaviors. Questionnaires used were Coming Out Scales (attitudes toward own homosexuality, information about the lesbian/gay communities, disclosure of sexual identity to others); SERBAS-Y-HM-M/F-1, to define self-label as lesbian, gay, or bisexual; Personal Identity Scale, to assess sexual identity status (defined as Achieved (high on exploration and commitment to a homosexual identity), Moratorium (high on exploration/low on commitment), Foreclosed (low on exploration/high on commitment), and Diffused (low on both); and the SERBAS-Y-SH-HM-M/F-1, to assess sexual risk behaviors. Sexual identity achievement is a process of exploration and commitment similar to the process of religious and ethnic identity achievement. Sexual identity does not determine or define sexual behavior. While there were significant gender differences, gay/lesbian/bisexual adolescents are having high-risk unprotected sex. This situation requires extensive HIV prevention efforts.
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Type
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dissertation
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Source
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PQT Legacy CUNY.xlsx
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degree
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D.S.W.
