Identity Complexity and Integration in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Heterosexual Adolescents and Emerging Adults: Implications for Clinical Practice
The study aimed at assessing whether differences exist in identity complexity and integration between 31 lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) and 33 heterosexual youths whose mean age was 21.47 (SD = 3.27). It constitutes a pilot study using a newly created questionnaire, called Identity Labels and Life...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
University of Messina
2019-08-01
|
| Series: | Mediterranean Journal of Clinical Psychology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://cab.unime.it/journals/index.php/MJCP/article/view/2092 |
| _version_ | 1811224921742770176 |
|---|---|
| author | Simona Picariello Cristiano Scandurra Seth J. Schwartz Anna Lisa Amodeo |
| author_facet | Simona Picariello Cristiano Scandurra Seth J. Schwartz Anna Lisa Amodeo |
| author_sort | Simona Picariello |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The study aimed at assessing whether differences exist in identity complexity and integration between 31 lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) and 33 heterosexual youths whose mean age was 21.47 (SD = 3.27). It constitutes a pilot study using a newly created questionnaire, called Identity Labels and Life Contexts Questionnaire (ILLCQ), which assesses the interplay between identity dimensions and life contexts. The ILLCQ allows to assess identity integration on three levels: 1) the integration among the different domains of identity in their intersection with the various life contexts (assessed through salience and centrality); 2) the integration between an individual’s self-definition and the definition mirrored by others (perceived self-recognition); and 3) the integration between how she/he feels her/himself to be and the way she/he shows her/himself to others. Results suggest that identity salience is significantly variable across the life contexts for both LGB and heterosexual youths. The only significant difference found between groups was higher salience and centrality of the sexual orientation domain for LGB youths. This constitutes a sort of core identity for LGB participants, which seems to be missing in the heterosexual counterparts. LGB youths reported general lower identity recognition on the part of other people. Implications for clinical practice are discussed. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T08:58:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4ce4b829eca247a8954b7d136af059ed |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2282-1619 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T08:58:14Z |
| publishDate | 2019-08-01 |
| publisher | University of Messina |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Mediterranean Journal of Clinical Psychology |
| spelling | doaj.art-4ce4b829eca247a8954b7d136af059ed2022-12-22T03:39:20ZengUniversity of MessinaMediterranean Journal of Clinical Psychology2282-16192019-08-017210.6092/2282-1619/2019.7.20921772Identity Complexity and Integration in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Heterosexual Adolescents and Emerging Adults: Implications for Clinical PracticeSimona Picariello0Cristiano Scandurra1Seth J. Schwartz2Anna Lisa Amodeo3University of Naples Federico IIUniversity of Naples Federico II - Department of Neurosciences and Reproductive and Odontostomatological Sciences<p>University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida</p> <p> </p>University of Naples Federico IIThe study aimed at assessing whether differences exist in identity complexity and integration between 31 lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) and 33 heterosexual youths whose mean age was 21.47 (SD = 3.27). It constitutes a pilot study using a newly created questionnaire, called Identity Labels and Life Contexts Questionnaire (ILLCQ), which assesses the interplay between identity dimensions and life contexts. The ILLCQ allows to assess identity integration on three levels: 1) the integration among the different domains of identity in their intersection with the various life contexts (assessed through salience and centrality); 2) the integration between an individual’s self-definition and the definition mirrored by others (perceived self-recognition); and 3) the integration between how she/he feels her/himself to be and the way she/he shows her/himself to others. Results suggest that identity salience is significantly variable across the life contexts for both LGB and heterosexual youths. The only significant difference found between groups was higher salience and centrality of the sexual orientation domain for LGB youths. This constitutes a sort of core identity for LGB participants, which seems to be missing in the heterosexual counterparts. LGB youths reported general lower identity recognition on the part of other people. Implications for clinical practice are discussed.http://cab.unime.it/journals/index.php/MJCP/article/view/2092identity integrationlgb youthssexual orientationillcqidentity development |
| spellingShingle | Simona Picariello Cristiano Scandurra Seth J. Schwartz Anna Lisa Amodeo Identity Complexity and Integration in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Heterosexual Adolescents and Emerging Adults: Implications for Clinical Practice Mediterranean Journal of Clinical Psychology identity integration lgb youths sexual orientation illcq identity development |
| title | Identity Complexity and Integration in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Heterosexual Adolescents and Emerging Adults: Implications for Clinical Practice |
| title_full | Identity Complexity and Integration in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Heterosexual Adolescents and Emerging Adults: Implications for Clinical Practice |
| title_fullStr | Identity Complexity and Integration in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Heterosexual Adolescents and Emerging Adults: Implications for Clinical Practice |
| title_full_unstemmed | Identity Complexity and Integration in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Heterosexual Adolescents and Emerging Adults: Implications for Clinical Practice |
| title_short | Identity Complexity and Integration in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Heterosexual Adolescents and Emerging Adults: Implications for Clinical Practice |
| title_sort | identity complexity and integration in lesbian gay bisexual and heterosexual adolescents and emerging adults implications for clinical practice |
| topic | identity integration lgb youths sexual orientation illcq identity development |
| url | http://cab.unime.it/journals/index.php/MJCP/article/view/2092 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT simonapicariello identitycomplexityandintegrationinlesbiangaybisexualandheterosexualadolescentsandemergingadultsimplicationsforclinicalpractice AT cristianoscandurra identitycomplexityandintegrationinlesbiangaybisexualandheterosexualadolescentsandemergingadultsimplicationsforclinicalpractice AT sethjschwartz identitycomplexityandintegrationinlesbiangaybisexualandheterosexualadolescentsandemergingadultsimplicationsforclinicalpractice AT annalisaamodeo identitycomplexityandintegrationinlesbiangaybisexualandheterosexualadolescentsandemergingadultsimplicationsforclinicalpractice |