'Long-term health benefits' for LGBT youth who come out during high school

Date: Feb-11-2015 Coming out is one of the greatest challenges faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth. Although it is known that being out carries risks of bullying and victimization for teens, a new study finds that coming out during high school is associated with improved outcomes in the long run.

Participants who came out in high school reported lower levels of depression as young adults - a finding that was consistent across genders and ethnicities.

The new study, which is published in the American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, was led by University of Arizona (UA) researcher Stephen Russell, who analyzed data gathered by the Family Acceptance Project, a "research, intervention, education and policy initiative" established by San Francisco State University to promote the well-being of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) children and adolescents.

Russell, a UA distinguished professor of Family Studies and Human Development, decided to conduct the study after he was asked to provide an expert opinion in a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) against Okeechobee High School in Florida.

The contested issue in the suit was the high school's refusal to allow students to start a gay-straight alliance on campus, which officials claimed would be potentially harmful to students. ACLU attorneys asked Russell whether it could be said with "absolute certainty" that it is better for LGBT teens to come out at school than not, and he realized there was a worrying lack of research on the subject.

"Until now, a key question about balancing the need to protect LGBT youth from harm while promoting their well-being has not been addressed: do the benefits of coming out at school outweigh the increased risk of victimization? Our study points to the positive role of coming out for youth and young adult well-being," says Russell.

Respondents were bullied in high school, whether they were out or not

The Family Acceptance Project surveyed 245 non-Latino white and Latino LGBT young adults aged 21-25 for the study.

The survey reveals that respondents were generally bullied in high school because of their LGBT identity, whether they came out or not.

That finding might suggest coming out during high school to be a mostly negative experience. However, the study also found that participants who were open about their sexual orientation or gender identity in high school reported higher self-esteem and life satisfaction as young adults, compared with those who did not disclose their LGBT identity during high school.

Participants who came out in high school also reported lower levels of depression, and the study suggests these findings were consistent across genders and ethnicities.

Study co-author Caitlin Ryan, director of the Family Acceptance Project, explains the implications these findings have for the care and support of LGBT youth:

"We know from our other studies that requiring LGBT adolescents to keep their LGBT identities secret or not to talk about them is associated with depression, suicidal behavior, illegal drug use and risk for HIV. And helping them learn about and disclose their LGBT identity to others helps protect against risk and helps promote self-esteem and overall health

This study underscores the critical role of school environment in influencing LGBT students' risk and well-being into young adulthood."

Russell believes that the results of the study will be important for educating parents and school officials on how to provide the best support for LGBT students. "The thing that's encouraging is that we've found being out is good for you," he says. "This is clearly aligned with everything we know about identity. Being able to be who we are is crucial to mental health."

Written by David McNamee

Courtesy: Medical News Today Note: Any medical information available in this news section is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a health care professional.