Rotheram-Borus M J, Fernandez M I
Department of Psychiatry, University of California, Los Angeles, USA.
Suicide Life Threat Behav. 1995;25 Suppl:26-34; discussion 35-9.
Youths with a homosexual orientation face different developmental challenges during adolescence than those faced by heterosexual youths or individuals who recognize their homosexual orientation later in life. We discuss the impact of "coming out," or defining a homosexual orientation, on the development and identity formation of youths who come out during adolescence. The process of coming out is presented as entailing four broad dimensions: recognizing oneself as lesbian or gay; exploring one's sexual orientation through the gay and lesbian community; disclosing one's sexual orientation to others; and becoming more comfortable with one's sexual orientation. Some of the major challenges faced by these youths are described, and future directions for research efforts are discussed.
与异性恋青少年或在生命后期才认识到自己同性恋取向的人相比，有同性恋取向的青少年在青春期面临着不同的发展挑战。我们讨论了“出柜”，即明确同性恋取向，对青春期出柜的青少年的发展和身份形成的影响。出柜过程被认为包含四个主要方面：将自己认同为女同性恋或男同性恋；通过同性恋群体探索自己的性取向；向他人公开自己的性取向；以及对自己的性取向感到更加自在。文中描述了这些青少年面临的一些主要挑战，并讨论了未来研究工作的方向。
