Stress of being outed to parents and caregivers... mental health consequences

[Jessica_Rose]

Stress of being outed to parents and caregivers: What are the mental health consequences?

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/stress-of-being-outed-to-parents-and-caregivers-what-are-the-mental-health-consequences/ar-BB1j7ILW?ocid=windirect&cvid=9a3f26f982f8484890492570ba33c69a&ei=11

Story by Danielle Faipler (29 Feb 2024)

"In recent years, we've seen an increase in anti-LGBTQ+ legislation targeting kids, and even though not all of these bills will become law, even the introduction of the bills may have an immediate and real impact on kids' lives and their mental health," says Ryan Watson, associate professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences (HDFS).

To investigate the mental health consequences of sexual and gender-diverse youth (SGDY) whose sexual or gender identity is forcibly disclosed to their parents without their permission, a team of researchers at UConn's Sexuality, Health, and Intersectional Experiences (SHINE) Lab conducted a study that was recently published in the Journal of Research on Adolescence.

The team found that respondents who were outed (about 30%) to their parents were more likely to experience elevated depressive symptoms and lower LGBTQ family support compared to those who were not. Parents who affirmed and supported their child's identity could potentially mitigate depressive symptoms from the stress of being outed.

"A staggering number of anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been proposed that mandate school officials to out students' identities to parents and caregivers. Policymakers should be aware of the harms these bills have on the well-being of students and strongly argue for their right to disclose their identities on their own terms," says McCauley.