Home As the First Closet: Examining Associations between Individual, Psychological, and Familial Factors and LGBTQ+ Adolescents’ Identity Disclosure to Family

Background and Purpose: Identity disclosure to family is a pivotal developmental milestone for LGBTQ+ adolescents, yet limited research has examined the specific antecedents of disclosure to different family members. This study investigated associations between individual (gender identity, sexual orientation, racial identity, urbanicity, employment, and age), psychological (identity management stress and internalized homonegativity), and environmental factors (family support, communication around sexuality, family role models, family mentorship, adverse childhood experiences, religious stigma, and financial instability) and LGBTQ+ identity disclosure to mothers, fathers, siblings, and extended relatives among LGBTQ+ adolescents.

Methods: Data were analyzed from a national community sample of 1,748 LGBTQ+ adolescents (Mean age = 15.9; analytic sample = 1,592 due to missing data) in the United States (U.S.). Bivariate tests were used to assess differences in disclosure to family members across sociodemographic characteristics. Next, we estimated a series of multivariable regression models to examine correlates of LGBTQ+ identity disclosure. We used four separate logistic regression models to assess the likelihood of disclosure to each family member respectively (mothers, fathers, siblings, grandparents and other adult relatives). Additionally, we used a multiple linear regression model to estimate the predictors of

Results: We found a disclosure hierarchy, with adolescents most likely to disclose to mothers (76.3%), followed by siblings (66.1%) and fathers (60.4%). White and transgender adolescents were significantly more likely to disclose than racial minority and cisgender peers. Rural and plurisexual (bisexual and pansexual) adolescents were less likely to disclose. Identity management stress was negatively associated with disclosure to specific family members (mothers and siblings) and level of disclosure overall, while family support and open communication around sexuality were positively related to both. Adverse childhood experiences were positively associated with disclosure, with sensitivity analyses confirming this relationship was not moderated by age.

Conclusions and Implications: The present study provides a comprehensive examination of the correlates of LGBTQ+ identity disclosure to family members. We highlighted that disclosure is not a uniform process but one deeply embedded in family systems. The findings reinforce the critical importance of family emotional climate (e.g., support and communication) while identifying subgroups, including racial minorities and those with high identity stress, who may delay disclosure. Practitioners should not assume it is the universal goal for all clients but rather support youth in weighing safety and cultural context. Interventions should focus on strengthening supportive environments and open communication within families, and addressing the unique barriers faced by LGBTQ+ adolescents with multiple intersecting identities.