How Black LGBQ Youths' Perceptions of Parental Acceptance and Rejection are Associated with their Self-Esteem and Mental Health
Authors:   , Walker Monique D. , Davey Maureen P. 
Published: July 2021

Parent-child relationships can both positively and negatively impact the psychological well-being and mental health of Black lesbian, gay, bisexual, and queer (LGBQ) youth and young adults. Yet, few studies have examined the role of parental acceptance and parental rejection among Black LGBQ youth. In order to fill this gap, this dissertation study examined the views of a convenience sample of 110 Black LGBQ youth (ages 14-21). Using Attachment Theory (Bowlby, 1969/1982), Intersectionality Theory (Crenshaw, 1989), and the Minority Stress Model (Meyer, 1995), the primary aim of this web-based, cross-sectional, prospective dissertation study was to understand how Black LGBQ youth and young adults' self-reports of parental acceptance and rejection are associated with their Black racial and LGBQ sexual identity development, and how they are associated with the following two mental health outcomes: 1) depressive symptoms and 2) self-esteem. The following two predictor variables were measured: 1) Black racial identity using the Cross Racial Identity Scale (CRIS); 2) Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Queer sexual identity using the Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Identity Scale (LGBIS). The proposed mediator, parental acceptance/rejection, was evaluated by assessing participants' perceptions of: 1) global parental acceptance/rejection using the Child Parental Acceptance-Rejection Questionnaire - Short Form (PARQ-C), and 2) sexual identity specific parental acceptance/rejection using the Perceived Parental Rejection Scale (PPRS). The two outcome variables were measured by: 1) depressive symptoms using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), and 2) self-esteem using the Rosenberg Self- Esteem Scale (RSES). A series of stepwise regression analyses were conducted to examine how Black racial identity and LGBQ sexual identity, as well as salient demographic variables, were associated with depressive symptoms and self-esteem. A mediation analysis, using Preacher and Hayes' method (2008), was used to evaluate direct and indirect effects. Additionally, a series of t-tests and ANOVAs were conducted to examine the associations between depressive symptoms and self-esteem and salient demographic variables (age, gender, ethnicity, level of outness across three domains, family SES/class, and levels of parent's religiosity, as reported by youth). While participants' ages ranged from 14 to 21 years old, most were between 19 and 21 (n=75; 68.18%), most selfidentified racially as either Black (79%), Biracial (14%) or Multiracial (5%), and most selfidentified ethnically as African-American (76%). More than half were female (64%), and there was a relatively even percentage of sexual identities which included: 24.5% lesbian (n=27), 24.5% gay (n=27), 20% bisexual (n=22), 20% queer (n=22), and 12% other non-heterosexual (n=12). More than half (60%) reported being "completely out" to their families (or to at least to 1 parent/caregiver); approximately half (49%) reported they were not "out in their religious community (at church or place worship); and most (92%) were either "completely or somewhat out" in the world (in most all aspects of their lives). 40% identified as not religious/atheist/ agnostic, and 31% identified as Christian. Approximately half (55%) were either in college, had received "some college," or graduated college with either an Associate's or Bachelor's degree and 43.6% had some high school, or a high school diploma or General Education Development (GED, diploma equivalent). Participants' perception of global parental acceptance/rejection was not a significant mediator between racial or sexual identity, and depressive symptoms and self-esteem. Instead, sexual identity-specific parental acceptance/rejection was a partial, and in one model, was a full significant mediator for youth in the earlier pre-encounter self-hatred stage of racial identity (having negative feelings about being Black), and the earlier acceptance concerns (worrying about being accepted as a LGBQ person) and identity uncertainty (being more unsure or insecure about one's sexual identity) of sexual identity development. Results suggest when Black LGBQ youth are in the earlier sexual identity stages of acceptance concerns and identity uncertainty, and perceive more negative reactions from their mothers about being LGBQ or more overall rejection of their sexual identities, they are at increased risk of experiencing depressive symptoms and having lower self-esteem. Thus, results suggest it is important to have at least one parent (mothers in this study) who is accepting of his or her child "coming out" as LGBQ, especially during the earlier stages of sexual identity development. Clinicians working with Black LGBQ youth, especially who present with depressive symptoms and/or lower selfesteem, should assess the youths' sexual identity stages, and partner with parents to help youth develop more positively. Clinicians need to ask about experiences at home for Black LGBQ youth and help them strengthen or repair attachment to their parents, especially during the "coming out" process. Family therapists and providers who are treating Black LGBQ youth and families should have more open conversations about the positive impact of acceptance and the potential detrimental impact of rejection. Future research should focus on transgender, gender non-conforming, genderqueer, gender variant, or otherwise non gender-binary (trans*) youth and their families. Future studies should survey larger samples of LGBQ youth and examine more outcome variables (e.g., suicidality, anxiety) and include LGBQ youth and their parents/caregivers. Specifically for Black and other families of color, future research should examine the role that religion and spirituality plays in the acceptance/rejection process of LGBQ youth. Finally, new measures should be developed, or existing measures revised, to better capture the complex identities for Black LGBQ youth growing up today.