Predictors of Disclosing Sexual Orientation to Parents,Classmates,and School Adults among Latinx Sexual Minority High School and College Youth

Abstract

The current study examined predictors associated with the degree of sexual orientation disclosure across social contexts (parents, classmates, and school adults) and educational context (high school and college) among Latinx sexual minority youth (SMY; N = 238). Results revealed that perceptions of more supportive social attitudes to sexual minority communities were associated with higher levels of sexual orientation disclosure across social contexts, including parents, classmates, and school adults. Compared to monosexual Latinx SMY, plurisexual Latinx SMY reported lower levels of sexual orientation disclosure to parents and school adults but not to classmates. Sexual orientation identity centrality was only associated with sexual orientation disclosure to parents but not to classmates or school adults. Degree of romantic attraction to the same gender was not associated with sexual orientation disclosure. Findings provide preliminary support for critical nuances in sexual orientation disclosure across social and educational contexts among Latinx SMY.