Location via proxy:   [ UP ]  
[Report a bug]   [Manage cookies]                
Skip to main content
Springer Nature Link
Log in

Family Dynamics and Changes in Sibling of Origin Relationship After Lesbian and Gay Sexual Orientation Disclosure

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Contemporary Family Therapy Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Despite the knowledge that the entire family system plays a role in the development of an individual, research on the disclosure of LG sexual orientation to the family of origin is mostly concentrated on the parental reaction. Siblings are rarely a focus of such research. Thus, the purpose of this qualitative study was to provide an understanding of the experiences of 14 heterosexual biological siblings of LG persons after they learn that their sister or brother is LG. More specifically, this study explored the changing family dynamics with a focus on the sibling of a LG sister or brother and the ways in which sexual orientation disclosure affects the sibling relationship. Data analysis identified ten themes: personal reaction to disclosure, suspecting sibling was LG based on stereotyping, protectiveness/concern, gay equals being different, anger/disappointment in how parent(s) handled LG sibling coming out, sibling relationship changes, increased comfort with having a LG sibling, disclosure of LG sibling sexual orientation to others, dealing with and challenging heterosexism, and changes to self as a result of sibling sexual orientation.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Allport, G. W. (1954). The nature of prejudice. Cambridge, MA: Perseus Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Arm, J. R., Horne, S. G., & Levitt, H. M. (2009). Negotiating connection to GLBT experience: Family members’ experience of anti-GLBT movements and policies. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 56, 82–96.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Balsam, K. F., Beauchaine, T. P., Mickey, R. M., & Rothblum, E. D. (2005). Mental health of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and heterosexual siblings: Effects of gender, sexual orientation, and family. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 114(3), 471–476.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bank, S. P., & Kahn, M. D. (1997). The sibling bond. New York: Basic Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baptist, J. A., & Allen, K. R. (2008). A family’s coming out process: Systemic change and multiple realities. Contemporary Family Therapy, 30, 92–110.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beals, K. P., & Peplau, L. A. (2005). Identity support, identity devaluation, and well-being among lesbians. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 29, 140–148.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beals, K. P., & Peplau, L. A. (2006). Disclosure patterns within social networks of gay men and lesbians. Journal of Homosexuality, 51, 101–120.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ben-Ari, A. (1995). The discovery that an offspring is gay: Parents’, gay men’s, and lesbians’ perspectives. Journal of Homosexuality, 30(1), 89–112.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Berzon, B. (1992). Positively gay. Berkeley, CA: Celestial Arts.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boer, F., Goedhart, A., & Treffers, P. (1992). Siblings and their parents. In F. Boer & J. Dunn (Eds.), Children’s sibling relationships: Developmental and clinical issues (pp. 41–54). Hillsdale: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cain, R. (1991). Relational contexts and information management among gay men. Families in Society, 72, 344–352.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chan, C. S. (1989). Issues of identity development among Asian-American lesbians and gay men. Journal of Counseling and Development, 68(1), 16–20.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cicirelli, V. G. (1995). Sibling relationships across the life span. New York: Plenum Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Creswell, J. W. (2007). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • D’Augelli, A. R. (2006). Stress and adaption among families of lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth: Research challenges. In J. J. Bigner (Ed.), An introduction to GLBT family studies (pp. 135–157). New York: The Haworth Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • D’Augelli, A., Grossman, A., Salter, N., Vasey, J., Starks, M., & Sinclair, K. (2005). Predicting the suicide attempts of lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth. Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior, 35(6), 646–659.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dunn, J. (1985). Sisters and brothers. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Edwards, R., Hadfield, L., Lucey, H., & Mauthner, M. (2006). Sibling identity and relationships: Sisters and brothers. New York: Routledge.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Gottlieb, A. R. (2005). Side by side: On having a gay or lesbian sibling. New York: Harrington Park Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grov, C., Bimbi, D. S., Nanin, J. E., & Parsons, J. T. (2006). Race, ethnicity, gender, and generational factors associated with the coming out process among gay, lesbian, and bisexual individuals. Journal of Sex Research, 43, 115–121.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Heatherington, L., & Lavner, J. A. (2008). Coming to terms with coming out: Review and recommendations for family systems-focused research. Journal of Family Psychology, 22(3), 329–343.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Herdt, G. H., & Koff, B. (2000). Something to tell you: The road families travel when a child is gay. New York: Columbia University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Herek, G. M. (1994). Assessing heterosexuals’ attitudes toward lesbians and gay men: A review of empirical research with the ATLG Scale. In B. Greene & G. M. Herek (Eds.), Lesbian and gay psychology: Theory, research and clinical application (pp. 206–228). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lance, L. M. (1987). The effects of interaction with gay persons on attitudes toward homosexuality. Human Relations, 4, 329–336.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lincoln, Y. S., & Guba, E. G. (1985). Naturalistic inquiry. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • MacDonald, G. B. (1983). Exploring sexual identity: Gay people and their families. Sex Education Coalition News, 5, 1–4.

    Google Scholar 

  • Merriam, S. B. (1988). Case study research in education: A qualitative approach. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morrow, S. L. (2005). Quality and trustworthiness in qualitative research in counseling psychology. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 52, 250–260.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Muller, A. (1987). Parents matter: Parents’ relationships with lesbian daughters and gay sons. Tallahassee, FL: Naiad Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nelson, E. S., & Krieger, S. L. (1997). Changes in attitudes toward homosexuality in college students: Implementation of a gay men and lesbian peer panel. Journal of Homosexuality, 33, 63–81.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Oswald, R. F. (2000). Family and friendship relationships after young women come out as bisexual or lesbian. Journal of Homosexuality, 38, 65–83.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pedretti, K. R. (2004). After the son comes out: Relationships with parents and levels of homophobia of disclosed versus undisclosed adult gay men (Doctoral dissertation, California School of Professional Psychology, San Francisco, 2004). Dissertation Abstracts International, 64–08, 4056.

  • Phillips, M. J., & Ancis, J. R. (2008). The process of identity development as the parent of a lesbian or gay male. Journal of LGBT Issues in Counseling, 2(2), 126–158.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reynolds, A. L., & Hanjorgiris, W. F. (2000). Coming out: Lesbian, gay and bisexual identity development. In R. M. Perez, K. A. DeBord, & K. J. Bieschke (Eds.), Handbook of counseling and psychotherapy with lesbian, gay and bisexual clients (pp. 35–55). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Riggio, H. R. (2000). Measuring attitudes toward adult sibling relationships: The lifespan sibling relationship scale. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 17, 707–728.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Robinson, B., Walters, L., & Skeen, P. (1989). Response of parents to learning that their child is homosexual and concern over AIDS: A national study. Journal of Homosexuality, 18(1–2), 1–35.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ryan, C., Huebner, D., Diaz, R. M., & Sanchez, J. (2009). Family rejection as a predictor of negative health outcomes in white and Latino lesbian, gay, and bisexual young adults. Pediatrics, 123(1), 346–352.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sakai, A., Sugawara, M., Maeshiro, K., Amou, Y., & Takuma, T. (2002). Negative life events in childhood and puberty: Role of children’s trust in parents and siblings as protective factor of depression. Journal of Mental Health, 48, 71–83.

    Google Scholar 

  • Saltzburg, S. (2004). Learning that an adolescent child is gay or lesbian: The parent experience. Social Work, 49(1), 109–118.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sanders, R. (2004). Sibling relationships: Theory and issues for practice. New York: Palgrave Macmillan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Savin-Williams, R. C. (2001). Mom, dad. I’m gay. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • Savin-Williams, R. C., & Ream, G. (2003). Sex variations in the disclosure to parents of same- sex attractions. Journal of Family Psychology, 17(3), 429–438.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sheets, R. L., & Mohr, J. J. (2009). Perceived social support from friends and family and psychosocial functioning in bisexual young adult college students. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 56, 152–163.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stocker, C. M. (1994). Children’s perceptions of relationships with siblings, friends, and mothers: Compensatory processes and links with adjustment. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 35(8), 1447–1459.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Stocker, C. M., Lanthier, R. P., & Furman, W. (1997). Sibling relationships in early adulthood. Journal of Family Psychology, 11, 210–221.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Strauss, A., & Corbin, J. (1998). Basics of qualitative research: Techniques and procedures for developing grounded theory (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Szymanski, D. M. (2008). Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered clients. In G. McAuliffe (Ed.), Culturally alert counseling: A comprehensive introduction (pp. 466–505). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, 37996-0900, USA

    Angela N. Hilton & Dawn M. Szymanski

Authors
  1. Angela N. Hilton
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Dawn M. Szymanski
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Angela N. Hilton.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Hilton, A.N., Szymanski, D.M. Family Dynamics and Changes in Sibling of Origin Relationship After Lesbian and Gay Sexual Orientation Disclosure. Contemp Fam Ther 33, 291–309 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10591-011-9157-3

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10591-011-9157-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation