Adolescence is a crucial phase in an individual's life where they are undergoing physical and mental changes that shape their identity and personality. During this time, teenagers begin to explore themselves and try to understand who they are. The development of a positive self-concept can be influenced by several factors such as peer pressure, family dynamics, and societal expectations. For lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, asexual, agender, bigender, pangender, and gender fluid youth (LGBTQ), parental ambivalence plays a significant role in shaping their emotional regulation and coping strategies.
Parental ambivalence refers to mixed feelings about one's child, which can manifest as contradictory attitudes towards them. It often arises from conflicts between parents' values and beliefs regarding sexuality or gender identity. Parents may experience confusion, fear, guilt, shame, anger, rejection, or sadness when confronted with the reality of their LGBTQ child. This internal conflict can lead to unpredictable and inconsistent behaviors toward their children, which can negatively impact their self-esteem and emotional well-being.
Studies have shown that parental ambivalence can create an atmosphere of anxiety, stress, and uncertainty for adolescent LGBTQ individuals. They feel like they cannot rely on their parents for support or guidance, which can lead to low self-confidence and poor self-worth.
It increases their risk of experiencing depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and suicidal thoughts.(https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC306728415/)
Parental ambivalence can make it challenging for LGBTQ teens to develop healthy coping mechanisms to deal with the challenges they face daily.
They might turn to substance abuse, self-harm, or risky behavior as a way of coping with the pain caused by their family's reaction to their sexual orientation or gender identity.(https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.11111/j.1467-9566.2009.006548.x)
Accepting and affirming families can provide a safe space for their LGBTQ child, allowing them to explore and discover themselves without fear of judgment or rejection. This can help build resilience, foster positive relationships, and promote emotional regulation.(https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/248918864/)
Even in these situations, adolescent LGBTQ individuals may still experience feelings of isolation, loneliness, and social stigma that affect their self-esteem and well-being. They must find ways to cope with these challenges and develop strategies to navigate their environment effectively.(https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.33897/ijhf.2021.1107934/full)
Parental ambivalence towards an adolescent LGBTQ individual can have lasting negative effects on their emotional regulation, coping strategies, and self-concept. It is crucial for parents to be supportive, affirming, and understanding of their children's needs to create a healthy and nurturing environment for their development.
How does parental ambivalence impact adolescent self-concept, emotional regulation, and coping strategies in LGBTQ youth?
Parental ambivalence can have a profound impact on an adolescent's self-concept, emotional regulation, and coping strategies, particularly for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning (LGBTQ) youth who may already feel marginalized by society at large.