Motives, Impediments and Consequences of Coming-out in Relations between Adult Homo- and Bisexuals with Their Parents (in Russian)

Abstract

The article examines the problem of relationships between people with homosexual and heterosexual identity and their parental family. The contemporary studies on parental reactions on encounter with non-heterosexuality of their children, probable reasons of these reactions, links between psychological health of adult non-heterosexuals and presence or absence of parental support are reviewed. In the empirical part of the article the methodology and the results of the conducted research are described. At the first stage of the study, based on the results of 11 depth interviews, the motives and obstacles were formulated that play role in decision-making on openness with parents about one’s sexual identity. Besides, variants of parental reactions on discovery of non-heterosexuality of the child were formulated. At the second stage of the study online-survey was conducted on 102 adult homosexuals and bisexuals, among them 69 had experience of openness with their parents about their sexual identity – they were offered to choose from the list those motives, obstacles and parental reactions, which were relevant for their situation. According to the results of the research, most typical motives and obstacles for coming-out, as well as parental reactions after the talk about sexual identity of the child were specified. The model of grief, offered by E. Kübler-Ross, was acknowledged as one of the ways to interpret the dynamics of the parental experiences after coming-out of their child. In the existing Russian works this topic is presented in the most generalized form, while the interest in LGBT-research in the Western countries over the last years became significantly higher. In light of the available data on relationships with parental family having impact on psychological health of adult homosexuals and bisexuals, and family relationships per se being important for all participants as the source of support and acceptance, it is necessary not only to conduct further research in this area, but also practically apply the received knowledge.