Double coming out is the process of revealing one's gender identity to close family members and then revealing one's sexual orientation to them again afterward. This can be a difficult and emotionally taxing experience that requires individuals to navigate various social expectations and norms. Research suggests that double coming out may have negative impacts on mental health, particularly for those who come from religious or conservative backgrounds where there are strong stigmas against homosexuality.
Recent studies have also shown that positive emotional experiences associated with supportive family relationships can help buffer these effects.
More research is needed to understand how double coming out affects psychological well-being long-term.
Double coming out can be emotionally challenging
The process of double coming out involves disclosing one's gender identity to close family members and then disclosing one's sexual orientation to them later. This can be an emotionally challenging experience for many people due to the potential for rejection, judgment, and discrimination. Some individuals may fear that their family members will reject them entirely if they come out as LGBTQ+. Others may feel pressure to conform to traditional gender roles and suppress their true selves in order to maintain family relationships. These experiences can lead to feelings of anxiety, depression, isolation, and even suicidal ideation.
Positive emotional experiences can help buffer the effects
Despite the potential negative effects of double coming out, some studies have found that positive emotional experiences associated with supportive family relationships can help buffer its impacts.
One study found that transgender youth who reported high levels of family support during the coming out process were less likely to report symptoms of depression and anxiety compared to those who did not. Another study showed that gay men who had positive coming out experiences with their families were less likely to engage in risky sexual behaviors than those who had negative experiences.
This effect was only seen among participants who also experienced low levels of internalized homophobia, suggesting that it may be important for individuals to work through any negative self-perceptions before experiencing positive family responses.
More research is needed to understand long-term effects
While there is some evidence on how double coming out affects psychological well-being in the short term, more research is needed to understand its long-term effects. Some studies have shown that individuals who experience high levels of social support are less likely to develop mental health problems over time, but others have found mixed results. It remains unclear whether these findings hold true for individuals who undergo double coming out.
There is little research examining the specific mechanisms by which double coming out may influence psychological well-being. Future research should examine how factors like gender identity, sexual orientation, cultural background, and religious beliefs may interact to shape these experiences and their implications for mental health.
Double coming out can be an emotionally challenging process that has been linked to negative mental health outcomes. Positive emotional experiences associated with supportive family relationships can help buffer these effects, but further research is needed to understand the long-term impacts of this phenomenon.
It is important for individuals to seek support from trusted friends, family members, and mental health professionals as they navigate their identities and relationships.
How does the emotional labor of “double coming out” influence long-term psychological well-being?
The term "emotional labor" refers to the process by which employees are expected to manage their feelings and expressions in order to appear warm and approachable for customers. In the context of LGBTQ+ individuals, double coming out means that an employee must come out as gay or lesbian at work and then again to friends, family, and other personal relationships outside of work (Weinstein & Sears, 2016).