The experiences of Irish sons
and daughters born into heterosexually-organised parental partnerships/unions
whose parents have separated and one has come out as Lesbian, Gay or Bisexual
(LGB) were explored through a grounded theory approach.
Fifteen adult children (over
the age of 18 years), who varied in age when their parents separated and one
disclosed as LGB, were interviewed. The primary concern that emerged centred on
participants having to adjust to their parents' being separated, as opposed to
their parent being LGB. This involved engaging with the tension that arose from
the loss of the parental union, which involved changes to the home environment
and adapting to new parental partners and family units.
Heightened reflection
on sexual orientation and an increased sensitivity to societal LGB prejudice
were specifically associated with a parent coming out as LGB. How parents
negotiated disclosing the changes to others, the level of support available to
parents, and how capable parents were at maintaining the parent-child
relationship had an impact on the tension experienced by sons and daughters. Participants moved from initially avoiding and resisting the family changes
that were occurring to gradual consonance with their altered family
environments.
Concluding directions for research and clinical considerations
are suggested.
Below: Sons and daughters engaging with tension that arises (when parents separate and one comes out as LGB): A transition from avoidance to consonance
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- 1School of Psychology, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland.
- PLoS One. 2015 Dec 28;10(12):e0145491. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0145491. eCollection 2015.
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