LaSala M C
School of Social Work, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick 08901-1167, USA.
J Homosex. 2000;39(2):47-71. doi: 10.1300/J082v39n02_03.
This exploratory study applied grounded theory methodology to examine what coupled gay men thought were the relationship impacts of being out to parents and in-laws. Data were collected from an accidental sample of 40 men in 20 homosexual couples using a standardized, open-ended interview. Virtually all of the respondents who had come out to their parents experienced initial and ongoing parental and in-law disapproval for their lifestyles and relationships. However, most men believed that it benefitted their unions to be out to their parents and partner's parents. Not having to hide the relationship was seen as a primary relationship advantage. Inclusion of one's partner in family events also emerged as a significant benefit. In contrast to the existing literature, a large proportion of respondents believed that parental/in-law antagonism had no adverse impacts on their dyads. They shielded their relationships by maintaining a strong sense of independence and in turn solid intergenerational boundaries. This study provides evidence to suggest that disclosure of sexual orientation to parents may be a distinctive, important developmental task for gay men which is critical to their relationships with their partners. Based on the findings of this research, mental health practitioners would be advised to assist gay men in the establishment and maintenance of strong intergenerational boundaries to protect their unions from parental/in-law disapproval.
这项探索性研究运用扎根理论方法，探究出柜告知父母和姻亲后，男同性恋伴侣认为这对他们的关系有何影响。研究采用标准化开放式访谈，从20对同性恋伴侣中的40名男性这一偶然样本中收集数据。几乎所有向父母出柜的受访者都经历了父母及姻亲对其生活方式和关系的最初及持续的反对。然而，大多数男性认为向父母和伴侣的父母出柜对他们的伴侣关系有益。不必再隐瞒关系被视为伴侣关系的一个主要优势。让伴侣参与家庭活动也被视为一项显著益处。与现有文献不同的是，很大一部分受访者认为父母/姻亲的反对并未对他们的伴侣关系产生不利影响。他们通过保持强烈的独立意识来保护自己的关系，进而稳固代际界限。这项研究提供了证据表明，向父母披露性取向可能是男同性恋者一项独特且重要的发展任务，这对他们与伴侣的关系至关重要。基于本研究的结果，建议心理健康从业者帮助男同性恋者建立并维持稳固的代际界限，以保护他们的伴侣关系免受父母/姻亲反对的影响。
