LGB Sexual Orientation and Perceived Parental Acceptance

The purpose of this investigation was to determine whether perceived maternal, paternal, and/or parental acceptance for a lesbian, gay, or bisexual (LGB) person's sexual orientation correlated with well-being and/or moderated the relationship between the LGB person's levels of self-acceptance and well-being. The following dissertation outlines the negative mental health and well-being implications of unsupportive social and family systems for LGB individuals. Given the importance of parental support for all individuals, the study extends the available research literature as it seeks to understand how parental acceptance for one's sexual orientation impacts self-acceptance and well-being, for which little research has previously been conducted. Specifically, the study investigates whether the amount of perceived maternal and paternal acceptance for one's sexual orientation moderates the relationship between self-acceptance and well-being indicators such as positive relations with others, happiness, self-esteem, and satisfaction with life. The study results found that perceived maternal and paternal acceptance are both positively and significantly correlated to each of the well-being indicators; positive relations with others, happiness, self-esteem, and satisfaction with life. Perceived maternal and paternal acceptance were found not to be moderators of self-acceptance and well-being, therefore, neither was more significant for moderating the relationship between self-acceptance and well-being. Average parental acceptance was also not a moderator of self-acceptance and well-being.

Name thesis:degree_name

PhD

Level thesis:degree_level

Immediate Access

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Counseling, Psychology, & Special Education

Year dc:date.available

2015

Author dc:creator

• Dalton, Sarah

Contributors dc:contributor

• Jered Kolbert
• Matthew Bundick
• Carol Parke

• correlation
• moderation
• parental acceptance
• self-acceptance
• sexual orientation
• well-being

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

https://dsc.duq.edu/etd/453

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dsc.duq.edu:etd-1466