Attributions and emotional reactions to the identity disclosure ("coming out") of a homosexual child

This study examined factors that contribute to parental rejection of gay an d lesbian, youth. College students (N = 356) were asked to imagine being th e parent of an adolescent son who recently disclosed that he was gay. Consi stent with study hypotheses and based on attribution and moral affect theor y, results of regression analyses indicated that greater perceptions of con trol over homosexuality, higher proneness to experience shame, and lower pr oneness to experience guilt were associated with increasing negative reacti ons toward an imagined homosexual child. Also in line with study hypotheses , greater willingness to offer help to the hypothetical child was predicted by lower perceptions of control over homosexuality, Less intensely unfavor able emotional reactions, Less proneness to experience guilt, and greater r eported likelihood of experiencing affection toward him. Theoretical and cl inical implications of this research are discussed.