HIV RISK AND COMING-OUT AMONG GAY AND LESBIAN ADOLESCENTS

与异性恋同龄人类似，同性恋和异性恋者的核心发展任务 女同性恋青少年是在探索他们的个人身份认同，尤其是 关于他们的性取向。关于性的探索 定向通常被标记为“出柜”过程：一段时间 推定为异性恋，然后承认自己是女同性恋或 同性恋，通过获取关于同性恋的信息来探索自己的同性恋 同性恋和女同性恋者/男同性恋者群体，透露自己的取向 对他人，以及对自己的性行为感到舒服和接受 定位。强烈的社会规范认可异性恋取向， 家庭和同龄人对同性恋的负面反应，以及 缺乏积极的榜样增加了同性恋和 女同性恋青少年会感受到压力，变得与社会隔绝 当他们探索自己的个人身份时。这些困难是 对于青少年来说更是如此，因为他们的资源比 他们在成年初期就出柜了。社会压力产生的压力 反应导致出柜的青少年有更高的风险 从事与艾滋病毒无关的性行为和使用艾滋病毒的危险行为 问题(例如，学校问题、抑郁、自杀、犯罪)、 与他们的异性恋同龄人相比。然而，男同性恋和女同性恋 成功应对日益增长的发展的青少年 对他们提出的挑战增加了他们的自尊和人际关系 增强适应能力的解决问题的技能。为了检查这一过程， 年龄在14-21岁的75名男同性恋和75名女同性恋者的连续研究 世卫组织联系提供社交和娱乐服务的机构 女同性恋和男同性恋青少年将被招募。出柜的过程， 艾滋病毒相关和非艾滋病毒相关风险行为和积极的适应结果 将在12个月内对三个点进行监测。此外，还有 一直没有对应对的社会规范和适应性反应进行评估 有可能使年轻人处于高风险的情况下。因此，我们将 制定一份评估这些规范的录像带措施。具体来说，我们将 考察：1)出柜一年多的发展过程；2) 出柜过程如何影响艾滋病毒相关和非艾滋病毒风险行为，如 以及适应性成果；以及3)确定社会规范和社会 对谈判更安全的行为和出柜做出称职的反应。这个 这项研究的结果将表明艾滋病毒预防计划 必须以女同性恋女孩为目标，提供定制艾滋病毒的指南 为青年在出柜过程中的地位制定预防方案；以及 为社交技能培训计划的方向提供指导 关于在高风险情况下应对的规范。

Similar to heterosexual peers, a central developmental task of gay and lesbian adolescents is to explore their personal identity, particularly with respect to their sexual orientation. The exploration of sexual orientation is typically labeled the "coming-out" process: a period of presumed heterosexuality, followed by recognizing oneself as lesbian or gay, exploring one's homosexuality by gaining information about homosexuality and the lesbian/gay community, disclosing one's orientation to others, and becoming comfortable with and accepting of one's sexual orientation. The strong social norms endorsing heterosexual orientation, the negative reactions by families and peers towards homosexuality, and the lack of positive role models increase the likelihood that gay and lesbian adolescents will experience stress and become socially isolated as they explore their personal identities. These difficulties are exacerbated for adolescents because they have fewer resources than those who come-out in early adulthood. The stress generated by societal reactions lead adolescents who are coming-out to be at higher risk for engaging in sexual and substance use HIV risk acts, non-HIV related problems (e.g., school problems, depression, suicidality, delinquency), compared to their heterosexual peers. However, gay and lesbian adolescents who successfully cope with the increased developmental challenges posed to them have increases self-esteem and interpersonal problem solving skills that enhance adjustment. To examine this process, a consecutive series of 75 lesbian and 75 gay male adolescents aged 14-21 who contact agencies providing social and recreational services to lesbian and gay adolescents will be recruited. The coming-out process, HIV-related and non-HIV related risk acts, and positive adaptive outcomes will be monitored at three points over 12 months. In addition, there have been no assessments of social norms and adaptive responses to cope with situations that may place youths at high risk. Therefore, we will develop a videotape measure to assess these norms. Specifically, we will examine: 1) the developmental process of coming-out over one year; 2) how the coming-out process impacts HIV-related and non-HIV risk acts, as well as adaptive outcomes; and 3) identify social norms and socially competent responses for negotiating safer acts and coming-out. The results from this study will indicate whether HIV prevention programs must target lesbian girls, provide guidelines for tailoring HIV prevention programs to the youth's place in the coming-out process; and provide guidelines for the direction of social skills training programs regarding the norms for coping in high risk situations.