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ABSTRACT
This paper examines the literature on identity development of homosexual youth, and parental and familial influences on the coming out process. Research indicates that homosexual adolescents who have a close relationship with their parents and families tend to come out at a younger age and to experience more positive identities than do those who have a poor relationship.
The psychological literature on homosexuality has shifted from a focus on pathology to an emphasis on the formation of a positive and nonpathological identity (Dank, 1971; Sullivan & Schneider, 1987). Recently, there has been interest in the homosexual coming out experience (Coleman, 1982; Troiden, 1989). Research is demonstrating that parents and families are influential in this process (Cramer & Roach, 1988; Newman & Muzzonigro, 1993; Parish & McCluskey, 1992; Savin-- Williams, 1989).
THEORIES OF IDENTITY DEVELOPMENT
Theories on the formation of a homosexual identity and the coming out process have outlined stages through which an individual passes (Cass, 1979; Troiden, 1989). A person can be in more than one stage at a time, as well as return to a previous stage.
According to Zera (1992), Cass (1979) was the first to articulate a model of homosexual identity. Cass proposed that individuals go through six non-age-specific stages: (1) identity awareness-the individual is conscious of being different; (2) identity comparison -the individual believes that he or she may be homosexual, but tries to act heterosexual; (3) identity tolerance-the individual realizes that he or she is homosexual; (4) identity acceptance-the individual begins to explore the gay community; (5) identity pride -the individual becomes active in the gay community; and (6) synthesis-the individual fully accepts himself or herself and others.
Troiden (1989) has postulated that an individual goes through four stages in the formation of a homosexual identity: sensitization, identity confusion, identity assumption, and commitment. Unlike Cass (1979), Troiden's stages are age-specific. In the sensitization stage, beginning before puberty, the individual has homosexual feelings or experiences without understanding the implications for self-identity. In the identity confusion stage, which usually occurs during adolescence, the individual realizes that he or she may be homosexual. In the identity assumption stage, the individual comes out as a homosexual. Coming out usually occurs first in the homosexual community, with attempts at coming out...