Abstract
This exploratory study found that gay male youths develop strengths that enable them to successfully cope with the challenges and stresses associated with their overall development. These internal and external resources were (1) protective in nature, (2) indicated the presence of resilience, and (3) assisted participants in managing their sexual orientation in adolescence. Bivariate analysis revealed participants had positive self-esteem and an internal locus of control comparable to, or better than, youths overall. Age, social support from gay, lesbian, and bisexual friends and from family, and a preadolescent sense of difference were significantly correlated with self-esteem and/or locus of control.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Barrera, Jr., M. (1988). Models of social support and life stress: Beyond the buffering hypothesis. In L. Cohen (Ed.), Life events and psychological functioning: Theoretical and methodological issues (pp. 211–236). Newbury, CA: Sage.
Beardslee, W. (1989). The role of self-understanding in resilient individuals: The development of a perspective. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 59, 266–278.
Blyth, D., & Traeger, C. (1988). Adolescent self-esteem and perceived relationships with parents and peers. In S. Salzinger, J. Antrobus, & M. Hammer (Eds.), Social networks of children, adolescents, and college students (pp. 171–194). Hillsdale, N.J: Lawrence Erlbaum.
Boxer, A., & Cohler, B. (1989). The life course of gay and lesbian youth: An immodest proposal for the study of lives. In G. Herdt (Ed.), Gay and lesbian youth (pp. 315–355). New York: Harrington Park Press.
Boxer, A., Cook, J., & Herdt, G. (1991). Double jeopardy: Identity transitions and parent-child relationships among gay and lesbian youth. In K. Pillemer & K. McCartney (Eds.), Parent-child relations throughout life, (pp. 59–92). Hillsdale, N.J: Lawrence Erlbaum.
Burt, C., Cohen, L, & Bjorck, J. (1988). Perceived family environment as a moderator of young adolescents' life stress adjustment. American Journal of Community Psychology, 16, 101–122.
Cohler, B. (1987). Adversity, resilience, and the study of lives. In E. Anthony & B. Cohler (Eds.), The invulnerable child (pp. 363–424). New York: Guilford Press.
Compas, B. (1987). Coping with stress during childhood and adolescence. Psychological Bulletin, 101, 393–403.
Compas, B., Salvin, L., Wagner, B., & Vannatta, K. (1986). Relationship of life events and social support with psychological dysfunction among adolescents. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 15, 205–221.
Corcoran, K., & Fischer, J. (1987). Measures for clinical practice: A sourcebook. New York: The Free Press.
Crocker, J., & Major, B. (1989). Social stigma and self-esteem: The self-protective properties of stigma. Psychological Review, 96, 608–630.
Erikson, E. (1963). Children and society (2nd ed.). New York: W.W. Norton.
Felner, R., Aber, M., Primavera, J., & Cauce, A. (1985). Adaptation and vulnerability in high-risk adolescents: An examination of environmental mediators. American Journal of Community Psychology, 3, 365–379.
Flavell, J. (1985). Cognitive development (2nd ed.). Englewood Cliffs, N.J: Prentice-Hall.
Garmezy, N. (1983). Stressors of childhood. In N. Garmezy & M. Rutter (Eds.), Stress, coping, and development in children (pp. 43–84). New York: McGraw-Hill.
Germain, C. (1979). Social work practice, people and environments: An ecological perspective. New York: Columbia University Press.
Germain, C. (1991). Human behavior in the social environment: An ecological view. New York: Columbia University Press.
Gonsiorek, J. (1988). Mental health issues of gay and lesbian adolescents. Journal of Adolescent Health Care, 9, 114–122.
Hauser, S., Vieyra, M., Jacobsen, A., & Wertlieb, D. (1985). Vulnerability and resilience in adolescence: Views from the family. Journal of Early Adolescence, 5, 81–100.
Heller, K., & Swindle, R. (1983). Social networks, perceived social support, and coping with stress. In R. Felner, L. Jason, & J. Mositsuga (Eds.), Preventive Psychology: Theory, research, and practice (pp. 87–103). New York: Pergamon Press.
Herdt, G. (1989). Introduction: Gay and lesbian youth, emergent identities and cultural scenes home and abroad. In G. Herdt (Ed.), Gay and lesbian youth. New York: Harrington Park Press.
Hoffman, M., Levy-Shiff, R., & Ushpiz, V. (1993). Moderating effects of adolescent social orientation on the relation between social support and self-esteem. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 22, 23–31.
Jones, E., Farina, A., Hastorf, A., Markus, H., Miller, D., & Scott, R. (1984). Social stigma: The psychology of marked relationships. New York: W. H. Freeman.
Lefcourt H., Martin, R., & Saleh, W. (1984). Locus of control and social support: Interactive moderators of stress. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 47, 378–389.
Luthar, S., & Zigler, E. (1991). Vulnerability and competence: A review of research on resilience in childhood. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 61, 6–22.
Mallon, G. (1992). Gay and no place to go: Assessing the needs of gay and lesbian adolescents in out-of-home care settings. Child Welfare, LXXV, 547–556.
Malyon, M. (1981). The homosexual adolescent: Developmental issues and social bias. Child Welfare, 60, 321–330.
Mann, L., Harmone, R., & Power, C. (1989). Adolescent decision-making: The development of competence. Journal of Adolescence, 12, 265–278.
Martin, A., & Hetrick, E. (1988). The stigmatization of the gay and lesbian adolescent. Journal of Homosexuality, 15, 163–183.
McManus, M. (1991). Serving lesbian and gay youth. Focal Point, 5, 1–4.
Mercier, L., & Berger, R. (1989). Social service needs of lesbian and gay adolescents: Telling it their way. Journal of Social Work and Human Sexuality, 8, 75–95.
Morrow, D. (1993). Social work with gay and lesbian adolescents. Social Work, 38, 655–660.
Muuss, R. (1988). Theories of adolescence. New York: Random House.
Newman, B., & Muzzonigro, P. (1993). The effects of traditional family values on the coming-out process of gay male adolescents. Adolescence, 28, 213–226.
Nowicki, S., & Strickland, B. (1973). A locus of control scale for children. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 40, 148–154.
O'Malley, P., & Bachman, J. (1983). Self-esteem: Change and stability between the ages of 13 and 23. Developmental Psychology, 19, 257–268.
Paroski, Jr., P. (1987). Health care delivery and the concerns of gay and lesbian clients. Journal of Adolescent Health Care, 8, 188–192.
Plummer, K. (1975). Sexual stigma: An interactionist account. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul.
Procidano, M., & Heller, K. (1983). Measures of perceived social support from friends and from family: Three validation studies. American Journal of Community Psychology, 11, 1–24.
Ramafedi, G. (1987). Adolescent homosexuality: Psychosocial and medical implications. Pediatrics, 79, 331–337.
Rosenberg, M. (1965). Society and the adolescent self-image. Princeton, N.J: Princeton University Press.
Rosenberg, M. (1979). Conceiving the self. New York: Basic Books.
Rotherham-Borus, M., Rosario, M., & Koopman, C. (1991). Minority youths at high-risk: Gay males and runaways. In M. Colten & S. Gore (Eds.), Adolescent stress: Causes and consequences (pp. 181–200). New York: Aldine De Gruyter.
Rowlinson, R., & Felner, R. (1988). Major life events, hassles, and adaptation in adolescence: Compounding the conceptualization and measurement of life stress and adjustment. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 55, 432–444.
Rutter, M. (1985). Resilience in the face of adversity: Protective factors and resistance to psychiatric disorder. British Journal of Psychiatry, 147, 598–611.
Savin-Williams, R. (1990). Gay and lesbian youth: Expressions of identity. New York: Hemisphere Publishing.
Siddique, C., & D'Arcy, C. (1984). Adolescence, stress, and psychological well-being. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 13, 459–472.
Troiden, R. (1988). Homosexual identity development. Journal of Adolescent Health Care, 9, 105–113.
Walker, L, & Greene, J. (1987). Negative life events, psychological resources, and psychophysiological symptoms in adolescents. Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 16, 29–35.
Walsh, W., & Rozee, P. (1992). The effects of perceived social support on the self-destructive behaviors of lesbian and gay youth. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Society for the Scientific Study of Sex, San Diego, CA.
Werner, E., & Smith, R. (1982). Vulnerable but invincible: A longitudinal study of resilient children and youth. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Anderson, A.L. Strengths of Gay Male Youth: An Untold Story . Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal 15, 55–71 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022245504871
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022245504871