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Predicting Different Patterns of Sexual Identity Development Over Time Among Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Youths: A Cluster Analytic Approach

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American Journal of Community Psychology

Abstract

Recent research has suggested that the sexual identity development of lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) youths may not follow a single pattern, but may follow a variety of pathways. Although some research documenting variability in identity development exists, unclear are the potential individual and social contexts that predict these different patterns, as well as the contexts that predict changes in identity integration over time. This report longitudinally examined these issues in an ethnically diverse sample of 156 LGB youths (ages 14–21) in New York City. Cluster analytic techniques identified two patterns of sexual identity formation (i.e., early and more recent), and three patterns of sexual identity integration (i.e., high, middling, and low). Gender and sexual abuse were found to predict identity formation; and, gay-related stress, social support, negative social relationships, sexual orientation, sexual identity, and gender were found to predict patterns of sexual identity integration and changes in integration over 1 year. These findings document different patterns of sexual identity development and identify potential contextual barriers and facilitating factors that may be used to develop interventions to promote healthy LGB identity development.

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Notes

  1. Specifically, one youth was excluded because she was older than the 21-year age criterion. Four female youths were excluded because they identified as heterosexual and never engaged in sexual activity with the same sex. Two male youths were interviewed twice; their second interviews were discarded. Finally, one youth was excluded because the interviewer believed him to have provided unreliable and invalid responses.

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Acknowledgment

This work was supported by Center Grant P50-MH43520 from the National Institute of Mental Health (Margaret Rosario, Project PI; Anke Ehrhardt, Center PI).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, The City University of New York—City College, NAC Building 7-120, Convent Avenue and 138th Street, New York, NY, 10031, USA

    Margaret Rosario

  2. The City University of New York—Graduate Center, New York, NY, USA

    Margaret Rosario & Eric W. Schrimshaw

  3. HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA

    Joyce Hunter

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  1. Margaret Rosario
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  2. Eric W. Schrimshaw
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  3. Joyce Hunter
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Correspondence to Margaret Rosario.

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Rosario, M., Schrimshaw, E.W. & Hunter, J. Predicting Different Patterns of Sexual Identity Development Over Time Among Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Youths: A Cluster Analytic Approach. Am J Community Psychol 42, 266–282 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10464-008-9207-7

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