scholarly journals Thematic Analysis of My “Coming Out” Experiences Through an Intersectional Lens: An Autoethnographic Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Enoch Leung
Keyword(s):  
Identity Development ◽  
Emerging Adulthood ◽  
Developmental Stage ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Psychosocial Development ◽  
Coming Out ◽  
Internal Conflict ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Developmental Task ◽  
Lgbtq Youth

For lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) youth, identity development is one of the most critical developmental task. LGBTQ youth are shown to be at risk for a variety of risk factors including depression and suicidal ideation and attempts due to how their identities are appraised in heteronormative societies. However, most LGBTQ educational psychology research have highlighted protective factors that are primarily relevant to support LGBTQ white-youth. One of the major developmental theories, Erikson’s stages of psychosocial development, has identified adolescence as the period where identity development occurs. However, through an intersectional lens, identity development appears to encompass more than adolescence but also emerging adulthood, a developmental stage not accounted for by Erikson’s stages of psychosocial development. The primary goal of this study is to seek to understand and question Erikson’s stages of psychosocial development through an intersectional lens of an autoethnography of my LGBTQ experiences. An autoethnographic approach [diary entries (N = 9), conversations (N = 12), interview (N = 1), social media websites and blogs (N = 2), and drawing (N = 1)] is used to understand my LGBTQ-person of color (POC) experiences of “coming out” or self-disclosure during my adolescence through emerging adulthood. Data was collected on April 2020 and spanned from 2006 through 2020 to account for the developmental period of adolescence and emerging adulthood (ages 13 through 27). Thematic analysis revealed four themes across the two developmental periods: (1) confusion and conflict between my gay and ethnic identity as a closeted adolescent, (2) my first “coming out” as a gay adolescent and “it got better,” (3) frustration arising from the internal conflict between my gay and POC identity as an emerging adult, and (4) frustration arising from external experiences with the flaws of LGBTQ community inclusivity. Results reflected a continuous theme of identity exploration and struggle through both adolescence and emerging adulthood, highlighting the need for future research to replicate similar experiences from other intersectional individuals during emerging adulthood stage, a developmental stage that is considered in between Erikson’s adolescent and young adulthood developmental stage.

scholarly journals Implications of Identity Resolution in Emerging Adulthood for Intimacy, Generativity, and Integrity Across the Adult Lifespan

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lauren Mitchell ◽  
Jennifer Lodi-Smith ◽  
Erica Baranski
Keyword(s):  
Identity Development ◽  
Emerging Adulthood ◽  
Identity Formation ◽  
Psychosocial Development ◽  
Growth Parameters ◽  
Developmental Trajectories ◽  
Empirical Work ◽  
Developmental Task ◽  
Identity Resolution ◽  
Over Time

Erikson's psychosocial stage model posits that identity formation is a key developmental task for adolescents, and that successfully resolving the identity vs. role confusion crisis at this time of life has important impacts on psychosocial development through adulthood. However, little empirical work has tested the consequences of early-life identity development for progression through the subsequent psychosocial stages in Erikson's model. The purpose of the present study was to test whether identity resolution measured during emerging adulthood predicted later developmental trajectories of intimacy, generativity, and integrity across adulthood. We used data from four cohorts of participants in the Rochester Adult Longitudinal Study (N = 1224), with up to five assessments spanning the twenties through the sixties. Latent growth curve modeling was used to estimate developmental trajectories for intimacy, generativity, and integrity, and to test the association between emerging adulthood identity resolution and growth parameters for each psychosocial outcome. Findings suggested that individuals with higher emerging adulthood identity resolution also experienced high levels of intimacy, generativity, and integrity in emerging adulthood, and these levels remained consistently high across adulthood. In contrast, those with lower identity resolution in emerging adulthood experienced lower initial levels of intimacy, generativity, and integrity, but faster growth over time. As a result, these trajectories appeared to nearly converge by the time participants were in their sixties, suggesting that one's emerging adulthood identity has less importance over time, and that individuals who struggled more with identity formation in adolescence and emerging adulthood are able to make up for it later in life.

scholarly journals Implications of Identity Resolution in Emerging Adulthood for Intimacy, Generativity, and Integrity Across the Adult Lifespan

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lauren Mitchell ◽  
Erica Baranski ◽  
Jennifer Lodi-Smith ◽  
Susan Whitbourne
Keyword(s):  
Identity Development ◽  
Emerging Adulthood ◽  
Identity Formation ◽  
Psychosocial Development ◽  
Growth Parameters ◽  
Developmental Trajectories ◽  
Empirical Work ◽  
Developmental Task ◽  
Identity Resolution ◽  
Over Time

Erikson's psychosocial stage model posits that identity formation is a key developmental task for adolescents, and that successfully resolving the identity vs. role confusion crisis at this time of life has important impacts on psychosocial development through adulthood. However, little empirical work has tested the consequences of early-life identity development for progression through the subsequent psychosocial stages in Erikson's model. The purpose of the present study was to test whether identity resolution measured during emerging adulthood predicted later developmental trajectories of intimacy, generativity, and integrity across adulthood. We used data from four cohorts of participants in the Rochester Adult Longitudinal Study (N = 1224), with up to five assessments spanning the twenties through the sixties. Latent growth curve modeling was used to estimate developmental trajectories for intimacy, generativity, and integrity, and to test the association between emerging adulthood identity resolution and growth parameters for each psychosocial outcome. Findings suggested that individuals with higher emerging adulthood identity resolution also experienced high levels of intimacy, generativity, and integrity in emerging adulthood, and these levels remained consistently high across adulthood. In contrast, those with lower identity resolution in emerging adulthood experienced lower initial levels of intimacy, generativity, and integrity, but faster growth over time. As a result, these trajectories appeared to nearly converge by the time participants were in their sixties, suggesting that one's emerging adulthood identity has less importance over time, and that individuals who struggled more with identity formation in adolescence and emerging adulthood are able to make up for it later in life.

scholarly journals Identity Development

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kate C. McLean ◽  
Moin Syed
Keyword(s):  
Identity Development ◽  
Emerging Adulthood ◽  
Psychological Health ◽  
Developmental Task ◽  
Successful Management

Identity development is a critical psychosocial task with relevance across the lifespan, but which plays a central role in adolescence and emerging adulthood. Broadly, identity development involves constructing an understanding of who one is, and how one came to be that person; that is, identity is an understanding of self that is integrated and coherent across time and context. Successful management of this developmental task facilitates psychological health, the ability to connect with others, and the ability to contribute to one’s society.

scholarly journals The Internet’s Multiple Roles in Facilitating the Sexual Orientation Identity Development of Gay and Bisexual Male Adolescents

2016 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 359-376 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gary W. Harper ◽  
Pedro A. Serrano ◽  
Douglas Bruce ◽  
Jose A. Bauermeister
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Orientation ◽  
Identity Development ◽  
Coming Out ◽  
Phenomenological Study ◽  
Future Research ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Male Adolescents ◽  
Sexual Orientation Identity ◽  
And Bisexual ◽  
Bisexual People

One emerging avenue for the exploration of adolescents’ sexual orientation identity development is the Internet, since it allows for varying degrees of anonymity and exploration. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to examine the role of the Internet in facilitating the sexual orientation identity development process of gay and bisexual male adolescents. Qualitative interviews were conducted with an ethnically diverse sample of 63 gay/bisexual male adolescents (ages 15-23). Participants reported using a range of Internet applications as they explored and came to accept their sexual orientation identity, with the intended purpose and degree of anonymity desired determining which applications were used. Youth reported that the Internet provided a range of functions with regard to the exploration and acceptance of their sexual orientation identity, including (1) increasing self-awareness of sexual orientation identity, (2) learning about gay/bisexual community life, (3) communicating with other gay/bisexual people, (4) meeting other gay/bisexual people, (5) finding comfort and acceptance with sexual orientation, and (6) facilitating the coming out process. Future research and practice may explore the Internet as a platform for promoting the healthy development of gay and bisexual male adolescents by providing a developmentally and culturally appropriate venue for the exploration and subsequent commitment to an integrated sexual orientation identity.

More About Emerging Adults and Mindfulness

2019 ◽  
pp. 15-22
Author(s):  
Holly Rogers ◽  
Margaret Maytan
Keyword(s):  
Identity Development ◽  
Emerging Adulthood ◽  
Developmental Stage ◽  
Stress Management ◽  
Emerging Adults ◽  
Ethnic Groups ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Management Tools

Chapter 2 explores in greater detail the characteristics of the developmental stage of emerging adulthood as well as highlights the usefulness of mindfulness and meditation for this age group. Emerging adulthood is defined by Jeffrey Arnett as a time of identity development in multiple important areas. The developmental stage of emerging adulthood is often expressed differently across racial and ethnic groups and socioeconomic classes. Emerging adults are seeking to answer questions about their direction in life and to discern what relationships and careers are best for them. Mindfulness is a useful tool for this quest as it aids emerging adults in identifying their authentic wishes and needs. The mindfulness-based stress-management tools also allow them to tolerate the stress that comes from all the uncertainties and pressures inherent in this time of development.

scholarly journals Social Comparisons on Instagram and Adolescent Identity Development: A Mixed-Methods Study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Edward John Noon
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
Identity Development ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Social Comparisons ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Developmental Task ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Comparison Theory ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Identity Processes

The formation of a coherent and synthesised sense of identity is a key developmental task for adolescents, and over the past decade, young people have increasingly been using social networking sites (SNSs) as platforms for self-expression, self-construction, and identity exploration. Whilst previous research has evidenced how self-presentations on SNSs can inform identity development, less is known about the identity implications of other-focused SNS behaviours. To shed light on this gap in the literature, this investigation drew upon social comparison theory to examine how social comparisons on Instagram inform the process of identity development during adolescence. Following the sequential explanatory design, an initial cross-sectional survey of British adolescents sought to determine the linear relationship between ability and opinion comparisons on Instagram and three key identity processes (commitment, in-depth exploration, and reconsideration of commitment). The moderator effects of age, gender, and Instagram network composition (network homophily and tie strength) were also examined. Subsequent qualitative interviews with adolescents built upon the results of the quantitative analysis and explored the nuances and mechanisms which may help to explain them. Overall, findings indicate that social comparisons on Instagram are not inherently ‘bad’ for young people (as is often suggested by the media and academic literature), and that both ability and opinion comparisons on the platform can support identity development during adolescence by increasing self-focus, strengthening commitments, and prompting further exploration. Nevertheless, females were more prone to experiencing the maladaptive implications of competitive ability comparisons on Instagram, whilst developmental maturity informed the comparison targets most supportive of identity development. Results therefore evidence the importance of Feed curation for ensuring that comparisons on Instagram have adaptive outcomes for young people, and the implications that these findings have for future research and practical work are discussed

How Gender Shapes Emerging Adulthood

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jerika C. Norona ◽  
Teresa M. Preddy ◽  
Deborah P. Welsh
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Identity Development ◽  
Romantic Relationships ◽  
Emerging Adulthood ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Emerging Adults ◽  
Risky Behaviors ◽  
Mental Health Outcomes ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Risk Taking Behaviors

This chapter examines how gender shapes experiences in emerging adulthood, from identity development and relationships to involvement in risky behaviors and mental health outcomes. It first considers the developmental tasks commonly faced by emerging adults before proceeding to a discussion of gender differences between young men and women in terms of development of one’s identity and relationships with family members (parents and siblings), friendships, and romantic relationships and sexual experiences, as well as mental health outcomes and the propensity to engage in risk-taking behaviors. It also describes various domains of identity, including political affiliation, religiosity/spirituality, and career/occupational development. The chapter concludes by assessing gaps in the literature and outlining directions for future research.

Emerging Adults and Work

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia Dietrich ◽  
Katariina Salmela-Aro
Keyword(s):  
Career Development ◽  
Identity Development ◽  
Emerging Adults ◽  
Developmental Regulation ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Developmental Task ◽  
Holistic View ◽  
Cultural Contexts ◽  
Work Transition

The transition from education to work is a key developmental task of emerging adulthood. In this chapter, the authors approach this transition from an engagement perspective, presenting a model of phase-adequate engagement that links career development, developmental regulation, and identity development theories in the context of the education-to-work transition. Taking a phase-adequate engagement perspective, they then review the literature on emerging adults’ transition from education to work and the role of interpersonal contexts. The authors conclude with suggestions for future research, emphasizing that a holistic view is needed in the study of emerging adults’ engagement, one taking more into account the structural, institutional, and cultural contexts that emerging adults are exposed to when transitioning from education to work.

Out in Time

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Perry N. Halkitis
Keyword(s):  
Identity Development ◽  
Identity Formation ◽  
Sexual Identity ◽  
Gay Men ◽  
Coming Out ◽  
Generational Differences ◽  
Life Experiences ◽  
Sexual Identity Development ◽  
Three Generations ◽  
American Society

The life experiences and sexual identity development of three generations of gay men, the Stonewall, AIDS, and Queer generations, are explored. While there are generational differences in the lived experiences of young gay men shaped by the sociopolitical contexts of the historical epoch in which they emerged into adulthood, and a crisis that has come to define each generation, there also are consistencies across generations and across time in the psychological process of coming out that defines identity formation of gay men, as these individuals transition from a period of sexual identity awareness to sexual identity integration. The life experiences are also shaped by conceptions of hypermasculinity, racism and discrimination, substance use, and adventurous sexuality. Despite the many challenges that have defined the lives of gay men across time and that are informed by the homophobia of American society, the vast majority of the population also has demonstrated resilience and fortitude in achieving both pride and dignity. These ideas are explored through the life narratives of fifteen diverse gay men, across the three generations.

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