Self-concept, resiliency, and identity factors among gay and lesbian individuals: a review and critique of the literature

Abstract

Research on gay and lesbian youths is limited and developmental studies are rare. Currently, there is a limited amount of literature that focuses on the different paths of development which gay and lesbian individuals follow. To add to the complication of the developmental tasks as adolescents, gay and lesbian youth face even more confusion and difficulty because of a lack of social support from people in their community, peers, and family. Considering the fact that many gay and lesbian people experience some form of violence, discrimination, rejection, isolation, or harassment, it is important to know what factors contribute to the ability of gay and lesbian people to cope in times of stress. A review of literature shows that the development of gay and lesbian youths does not necessarily lead to self-destructive behavior when resilience factors are involved. It is also shown in the literature that having a positive attitude about the self as a gay person is critical for having a positive attitude toward self in general. The purpose of this study was to conduct an extensive research of the literature describing the factors that assist with gay and lesbian resiliency. Issues of self-concept and identity development were critiqued and conclusions from the research were drawn. Through the analysis of the literature, it was found that there are tremendous implications for mental health and school counselors. Counselors can be an excellent source of help for gay and lesbian individuals, but there are generally not enough sufficiently trained counselors to deal with adolescents and self-concept, identity, and resilient aspects of their lives. Comprehensive counseling training programs should incorporate grief, abandonment, shame, and loss issues. Future research is needed to examine the importance of self-esteem and how this research can assist in designing interventions to enhance self-esteem. Further investigation is also needed in relation to self-concept among gay and lesbian individuals. There is a need for studies of resilience to examine the ways in which combinations of factors may act to influence resilience. Finally, the role of siblings in the coming out process should be explored.