The Role of Perceived Parental Acceptance-Rejection on Personality Psychopathology in Sexual Minorities

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2019-04-24

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Abstract

Parental Acceptance-Rejection (PAR) impacts a person’s mental health and psychological wellbeing well into adulthood and has been linked with many negative outcomes (D’Amico & Julien, 2012; Feinstein, Wadsworth, Davila, & Goldfried, 2014; Puckett, Woodward, Mereish, & Pantalone, 2015). For sexual orientation minorities, parental attitudes and reactions toward their child’s sexual orientation can impact perceived PAR and therefore wellbeing. Sexual minorities who experience parental rejection are at risk for alcohol and substance use, internalized homophobia, and a disrupted sense of identity (D’Amico & Julien, 2012; Feinstein, Wadsworth, Davila, & Goldfried, 2014; Puckett, Woodward, Mereish, & Pantalone, 2015). Furthermore, regardless of PAR, the sexual minority population already has an increased risk of mental health issues, self-harm and suicide (Eaton, 2014; Marshal et al., 2013), and in particular, higher scores on measures of personality psychopathology and personality disorders (Russell, Pocknell, & King, 2017). To date, no research has examined the role of PAR on personality psychopathology in sexual minority populations. This study examined the association between perceived PAR and pathologic personality traits and impairment in a sample of 79 sexual minorities. Significant correlations were found, indicating that higher levels of parental rejection were associated with higher levels of pathological personality traits and impairment. Additionally, identity-related moderators were examined, and multiple interaction effects were identified. Implications and future directions are discussed.

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Keywords

LGBT, GSM, Parental acceptance rejection, Personality psychopathology, Sexual minorities, Impairment

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