Is It All About Coming Out: How The Media Influences The LGBQ+ Experience

Abstract

As the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and queer (LGBQ+) community has gained an increased acceptance in Western society, media representation of LGBQ+ characters has increased. One storyline that is prominent for LGBQ+ media is the coming out storyline. Using a developmental perspective and grounded in behavioral scripts theory (Huesmann, 1986; Wright, 2011), this study examines the effects of the coming out storyline’s salience and applicability on LGBQ+ individuals’ self-complexity and well-being. Three types of role models and LGBQ+ identity security were included as moderators. In total, 401 LGBQ+ emerging adults were surveyed. Results indicated that self-complexity was negatively related to well-being. Additionally, coming out script salience was positively related to self-esteem and negatively related to depression for those at the highest level of LGBQ+ identity security. These findings present avenues of future research on LGBQ+ individuals, behavioral scripts, and emerging adulthood.