Social Inclusionary Experience and Self-esteem in Sexual Minorities: An Experimental Study on the Effect of Coming-out

Abstract

This experimental study examined the relationship between coming-out and self-esteem of lesbian, gay, and bisexual people. In order to examine its relationship, forty-nine lesbian, gay, and bisexual people completed questionnaires regarding one’s self-esteem, which was given before and after the treatment. After completing pre-treatment questionnaires, participants were randomly assigned into either control or experimental group. As for treatment, both groups were told to imagine a scenario in which they are having conversation with another person. In the scenario, the experimental group revealed one’s sexual orientation while the control group did not. Then, both groups were told that their conversation partner favorably evaluated them. Following this treatment was the post-treatment questionnaire. As a result, it was found that both control and experimental groups showed significant increase in their self-esteem after receiving the treatment. Furthermore, despite the difference in revealing one’s sexual orientation, no difference was found between groups. Coming-out is important social behavior with high risk for lesbian, gay, and bisexual people. However, the result indicates that this behavior does not have much effect on increasing their self-esteem.