UC Santa Barbara

Much of the early research on sexual minority (SM) mental health emphasized the

importance of “coming out” or disclosing one’s sexual orientation in developing a positive

sense of self. While some research indicates that disclosure is beneficial, other work has

failed to find such well-being benefits. Drawing on self-determination theory (Ryan & Deci,

2000) the present work addresses the inconsistency in this relation between coming out and

well-being. Study 1 indicates that negative reactions to disclosure exert a lasting impact on

well-being outcomes and that this influence was exerted via the thwarting of autonomy.

Study 2 results suggest that perceiving autonomy support from one’s social contexts was

associated with greater disclosure and well-being, especially among those with high levels

of internalized stigma. Study 3 indicates that recalling disclosure experiences impacts wellbeing

in the short-term as well, with positive experiences associated with greater well-being

than negative experiences. Cardiovascular results from Study 3 suggest that the relating

both positive and negative coming out experiences is associated with increased blood

pressure. Taken together, results highlight the stress associated with disclosure and the

importance of supportive social relationships and environments in promoting disclosure and

well-being among SM individuals especially among high risk individuals. These findings

suggest that interventions designed to increase the provision of autonomy support may be

particularly effective in promoting well-being among SM individuals.