Social support, sexual identity development stage, internalized, and external homophobia in lesbian, gay, bisexual youth

A review of the literature demonstrated an absence of published studies on the effects of social support and stage of sexual identity development on internalized homophobia and the perception of external homophobia in lesbian and gay youth. The purpose of this exploratory cross-sectional correlation study was to examine how these variables predict homophobia in lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) youth using Erikson's theory of identity development in adolescence and Cass's theory of homosexual identity formation. A convenience sample of 84 youth ages 16 to 21 was drawn from providers of services to this population in the New England area. Data were collected using several self-report measures (some modified from the original form) to assess stage of sexual identity development, internalized homophobia, perceived external homophobia, and social support. Results showed moderate positive relationships between social support importance and experience of external homophobia and between social support and positive feelings about self as lesbian or gay. Sexual identity development stage was moderately related to social support importance and experiencing homosexuality as an important component of self. Stage and personal homonegativity showed a moderate negative relationship. Findings suggest that social support is important in the experience of external homophobia and in developing positive feelings about self as lesbian or gay and that internalized homophobia decreases as a function of identity development. Implications for social change are that improved social support can reduce the negative effects of homophobia, resulting in improved mental and physical health, as well as productivity, for this population of youth.