The role of differentiation of self in achieving interdependent happiness of lesbian, gay and bisexual

• Main Authors: Bayot, Anna Marie S., Arpon, Alessandra T.
• Format: text
• Published: Animo Repository 2018
• Subjects: Differentiation (Sociology); Coming out (Sexual orientation); Sexual minorities—Identity; Sexual minorities—Psychology; Well-being; Happiness; Personality and Social Contexts; Psychology; Social and Behavioral Sciences
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/faculty_research/13082
• Institution: De La Salle University

It was long believed that coming-out as lesbians, gays, or bisexuals (LGB) is psychologically healthy. However, LGBs can possibly reveal their identity in an invalidating context that might cause them severe distress. Such instance supports the increasing research findings about the risk of coming-out. Despite the conflicting studies on the benefits and harm of coming-out, there is a consensus in terms of viewing it as a process that is filled with confusion and anxiety. The influence of contexts, intense emotions, and thoughts that beget identity disclosure may seem to affect the LGBs’ relational well-being (i.e. interdependent happiness). Hence, the purpose of this present research is to investigate the importance of LGBs’ differentiation of self (DoS), or their ability to separate and balance their own thinking and feeling from others’. It was assumed that LGBs’ DoS can serve as a mediator between the negative relationship of sexual identity disclosure and interdependent happiness. There were 308 self-identified LGBs who participated in an online survey to test this hypothesis. From a regression-based mediation analysis, results supported the assumption that the negative effect of LGBs’ sexual identity disclosure on their interdependent happiness will diminish due to their level of DoS. This study implies that coming-out may hurt LGBs’ relationship satisfaction. But it should be treated as a process that requires preparation in order for them to handle conflicts within themselves and between others during their identity disclosure.