| Parents of sexual minority youth who come out as gay, lesbian, or bisexual (GLB) have received increased attention in the literature in the past several decades. Often when children disclose their sexual orientation, it is a stressful experience for the parents, with some experiencing feelings of grief, shame, and confusion. The factors of grief and shame have not been quantitatively studied in relation to parental responses when a child discloses a GLB identity, but many parents have reported experiencing feelings of loss and the need to make meaning of their child's disclosure. Additionally, highly religious parents have also not been accommodated for in the literature. This study sought to give voice to the experience of parents whose beliefs and values may be in conflict with their child's identity. Participants in this study completed an online survey to examine the factors of time since a child's disclosure, grief, shame, religious commitment, and religious coping. The results found that among parents of GLB children, the constructs of religious commitment and religious coping were positively correlated with one another. Parents who reported elevated levels of religious commitment also reported higher levels of grief following a child's disclosure. The limitations of the current study, implications for families and mental health providers, and directions for future research are also discussed. |
