Sex variations in the disclosure to parents of same-sex attractions.

Bibliographic Data

ID23317293
AuthorsRitch C Savin-Williams, Ritch C Savin‐william (0000-0003-3972-6864, Cornell University), Geoffrey L Ream (0000-0003-1149-9495, Cornell University)
Year2003
Volume17
Issue3
Pages429-438
Publication date2003-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Family Psychology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0893-3200 • E-ISSN: 1939-1293
PublisherAmerican Psychological Association (APA) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1037/0893-3200.17.3.429
PMID14562466
OpenAlexW2073903835
LanguageEN
Citations received77
References cited39

The decision whether to disclose same-sex attractions to parents was explored through in-depth interviews with 164 young women and men. Participants were more likely to disclose to mothers than fathers, usually around age 19 years and in a face-to-face encounter. Mothers were told before fathers, largely because mothers asked or because youth wanted to share their life with them; fathers were told by someone other than their child or by the youth because it was time. The reason participants did not disclose to mothers was because it was not the right developmental time; the reason they did not disclose to fathers was because they were not close to them. Sons, more than daughters, feared the negative reactions of parents, who generally reacted in the same manner--supportive or slightly negative. Relationships with parents since disclosure generally had not changed or had improved. Sex of parent mattered more than sex of child on most domains.

Developmental psychology · Face (sociological concept) · Same sex · Self-disclosure · Gender Roles and Identity Studies · LGBTQ Health, Identity, and Policy · Psychology · Reproductive Health and Technologies · Social Psychology