Adolescent Experiences of Disclosing Sexual Orientation to Healthcare Professionals

The aim of this research was to examine the experiences of adolescents disclosing their sexual orientation, with specific focus on making the actual disclosure from the young person’s perspective. There is a paucity of existing literature in this field and it is hoped that this thesis will add to the body of knowledge related to lesbian, gay and bisexual adolescents.
Chapter one examines the current knowledge around the impact on, and experience of, young people who disclose lesbian, gay or bisexual sexual orientation in any setting. Findings are discussed under three main categories; Reactions to disclosure, Consequences of disclosure and cultural and ethnic differences. It is recognised that there is overlap between these areas with factors that will inevitably interact.
The second chapter investigates the experiences of adolescents who have disclosed their sexual orientation to a healthcare professional. Analysis of interviews with seven participants indicated four main themes: Identity formation, the moment of disclosure, additional influences of disclosure and professional roles and responsibilities. These themes are discussed in the context of existing theories and current research. Clinical implications, study limitations and future research avenues are also discussed.
Chapter three contains the author’s reflections on the process of completing the thesis, along with personal reflections of the thesis topic and reasons for beginning this investigation.
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