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19-09-2019 | Original Paper

Coming Out in Family and Sports-related Contexts among Young Italian Gay and Lesbian Athletes: The Mediation Effect of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Attitude

Auteurs: Jessica Pistella, Fausta Rosati, Salvatore Ioverno, Laura Girelli, Fiorenzo Laghi, Fabio Lucidi, Roberto Baiocco

Gepubliceerd in: Journal of Child and Family Studies | Uitgave 1/2020

Abstract

Objectives

This research aims to investigate the relationship between coming out to family and coming out in sports for lesbian and gay athletes and to examine the internalization of sexual prejudice as a potential mediator of this relationship.

Methods

For this purpose, disclosure of sexual orientation to family, coming out in sports and internalized sexual prejudice in sports-related contexts, age, gender, socioeconomic status, education level, political orientation, type of sport (individual vs. team sport), years of sports participation were assessed on an Italian sample of 113 lesbian athletes and 63 gay athletes between 18 and 35 years of age.

Results

Findings indicated that coming out to family was significantly associated with coming out in sports. In addition, the internalization of negative attitudes toward the visibility of lesbian and gay athletes in sport settings partially mediated the relationship between coming out to family and coming out in sports.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that prior experiences of coming out in family contexts may provide additional resources to prevent the internalization of sexual prejudice, and this may promote the coming out in other life contexts. Moreover, we recommend that more efforts should be made to support sexual minority athletes who are not able to disclose their identity in sports environments. Research implications and directions for future research are discussed.

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volgende artikel Paternal and Maternal Attachment: A Multifaceted Perspective on Adolescents’ Friendship

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Titel: Coming Out in Family and Sports-related Contexts among Young Italian Gay and Lesbian Athletes: The Mediation Effect of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Attitude
Auteurs: Jessica Pistella
Fausta Rosati
Salvatore Ioverno
Laura Girelli
Fiorenzo Laghi
Fabio Lucidi
Roberto Baiocco
Publicatiedatum: 19-09-2019
Uitgeverij: Springer US
Gepubliceerd in: Journal of Child and Family Studies / Uitgave 1/2020
Print ISSN: 1062-1024
Elektronisch ISSN: 1573-2843
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-019-01551-0

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