ABSTRACT

Guided by the Theory of Coming Out Message Production and the Constitutive Model of Coming Out, this study explores how negative COVID-19 experiences (adverse impacts of the pandemic) moderate the effects of cognitive factors (disclosure goals, relational power, and internalized homophobia) on sexual orientation disclosure, and the effects of disclosure on mental health. Results (N = 403 U.S. LGBQ adults) showed that as adverse impacts of the pandemic increased, the positive relationship between disclosure goals and sexual orientation disclosure decreased, but the negative association between internalized homophobia and disclosure increased. Higher disclosure levels predicted lower depression one month later, only when participants reported lower negative impacts of the pandemic. Theoretical accounts for coming out message processes should consider both environmental and cognitive factors and differentiate their distinct roles in predicting disclosure messages. Moreover, the positive impacts of effective coming out seem to disappear when the pandemic heavily impacts LGBQ people’s daily lives.

摘要

在出柜信息生产理论和出柜本构模型的指导下，本研究探讨了负面的 COVID-19 经历（大流行的不利影响）如何调节认知因素（披露目标、关系权力和内化的恐同症）的影响关于性取向披露，以及披露对心理健康的影响。结果 ( N = 403 位美国 LGBQ 成年人）表明，随着大流行的不利影响增加，披露目标与性取向披露之间的正相关关系减少，但内化同性恋恐惧症与披露之间的负相关关系增加。只有当参与者报告大流行的负面影响较低时，较高的披露水平才能预测一个月后的抑郁程度较低。信息发布过程的理论解释应同时考虑环境和认知因素，并区分它们在预测披露信息中的不同作用。此外，当大流行严重影响 LGBQ 人的日常生活时，有效出柜的积极影响似乎消失了。