Coming Out and Thriving: The Role of Family Acceptance, Authentic Self-Expression, and Community Belongingness in Empowering LGBTQ+ Individuals
Vo Minh Vinh （ Faculty of Management and Economics, University of Tomas Bata, Zlin, Czech Republic ）
Nguyen Ngo Phuong Lam （ Wellspring Hanoi International Bilingual School, Hanoi, Vietnam ）
https://doi.org/10.37155/2972-4856-0401-4Abstract
This study explores the psychological empowerment of LGBTQ+ individuals in the aftermath of the coming out process, with particular emphasis on the roles of family acceptance, authentic self-expression, and community belongingness. Grounded in Minority Stress Theory and Social Identity Theory, the research investigates how these psychosocial factors influence or moderate key psychological outcomes. Drawing on data from a cross-sectional survey of LGBTQ+ participants from Southeast Asia and other global regions, the study employed a 5-point Likert scale to measure core constructs related to identity and well-being. Findings indicate that both family acceptance and authentic self-expression exert significant and positive effects on psychological empowerment. Moreover, community belongingness functions as a moderating variable, strengthening the positive relationship between authentic self-expression and empowerment in socially supportive environments. In contrast, the benefits of self-expression are diminished in contexts characterized by social exclusion or rigid normative frameworks. These results highlight the critical importance of inclusive familial and communal environments in fostering identity affirmation and psychological well-being among LGBTQ+ individuals. The study offers both theoretical and practical contributions by illustrating how interconnected support systems can mitigate the effects of minority stress and enhance resilience following disclosure. Implications are discussed for mental health interventions, advocacy strategies, and future research, particularly within culturally diverse and underrepresented contexts.
Keywords
Psychological empowerment; Family acceptance; Authentic Self-Expression; Community belongingness; LGBTQ Identity DevelopmentFull Text
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[38].Tanaka, K., Davidson, L., & Craig, T. J. (2018). Sense of clubhouse community belonging and empowerment. International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 64(3), 276–285. https://doi.org/10.1177/0020764018759134
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[40].Walsh, F. (2016). Family resilience: A developmental systems framework. European Journal of Developmental Psychology, 13(3), 313–324. https://doi.org/10.1080/17405629.2016.1154035
[41].Wilson, C., & Cariola, L. A. (2019). LGBTQI+ youth and mental health: A systematic review of qualitative research. Adolescent Research Review, 5(1), 187–211. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40894-019-00118-w
[42].Yip, A. K. T. (2005). Queering religious texts: An exploration of British non-heterosexual Christians’ and Muslims’ strategy of constructing sexuality-affirming hermeneutics. Sociology, 39(1), 47–65. https://doi.org/10.1177/0038038505049000
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[2].Asch, S. E. (1956). Studies of independence and conformity: A minority of one against a unanimous majority. Psychological Monographs: General and Applied, 70(9), 1–70. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0093718
[3].Babbie, E. (2010). The practice of social research (12th ed.). Wadsworth.
[4].Barr, S. M., Budge, S. L., & Adelson, J. L. (2016). Transgender community belongingness as a mediator between strength of transgender identity and well-being. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 63(1), 87–97. https://doi.org/10.1037/cou0000127
[5].Baumeister, R. F., & Leary, M. R. (2017). The need to belong: Desire for interpersonal attachments as a fundamental human motivation. In Interpersonal development (Vol. 117, pp. 57–89). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781351153683-3
[6].Bishop, B., Colquhoun, S., & Johnson, G. (2005). Psychological sense of community: An Australian Aboriginal experience. Journal of Community Psychology, 34(1), 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcop.20079
[7].Blumer, H. (1986). Symbolic interactionism: Perspective and method. University of California Press.
[8].Bowleg, L. (2013). “Once you’ve blended the cake, you can’t take the parts back to the main ingredients”: Black gay and bisexual men’s descriptions and experiences of intersectionality. Sex Roles, 68(11–12), 754–767. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-012-0152-4
[9].Branscombe, N. R., Schmitt, M. T., & Harvey, R. D. (1999). Perceiving pervasive discrimination among African Americans: Implications for group identification and well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 77(1), 135–149. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.77.1.135
[10].Cavarra, R., Pepping, C., & Anderson, J. (2025). How social support affirms identity in LGBQ adults: A qualitative exploration. Sexuality Research and Social Policy. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13178-025-01095-7
[11].Christens, B. D. (2012). Targeting empowerment in community development: A community psychology approach to enhancing local power and well-being. Community Development Journal, 47(4), 538–554. https://doi.org/10.1093/cdj/bss031
[12].Corrigan, P. W., Kosyluk, K. A., & Rüsch, N. (2013). Reducing self-stigma by coming out proud. American Journal of Public Health, 103(5), 794–800. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2012.301037
[13].Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2017). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches. Sage publications.
[14].Creswell, K. G. (2020). Drinking together and drinking alone: A social-contextual framework for examining risk for alcohol use disorder. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 30(1), 19–25. https://doi.org/10.1177/0963721420969406
[15].Durkheim, E. (1897). Suicide: A study in sociology. Routledge.
[16].Eagly, A. H. (1987). Sex differences in social behavior: A social-role interpretation. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
[17].Frost, D. M., & Meyer, I. H. (2012). Measuring community connectedness among diverse sexual minority populations. Journal of Sex Research, 49(1), 36–49. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2011.565427
[18].Hamilton, D. T., Rosenberg, E. S., Sullivan, P. S., Wang, L. Y., Dunville, R. L., Barrios, L. C., Aslam, M., Mustanski, B., & Goodreau, S. M. (2021). Modeling the impact of PrEP programs for adolescent sexual minority males based on empirical estimates for the PrEP continuum of care. Journal of Adolescent Health, 68(3), 488–496. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2020.06.041
[19].Haslam, C., Jetten, J., Cruwys, T., Dingle, G. A., & Haslam, S. A. (2018). The new psychology of health. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315648569
[20].Kertzner, R. M., Meyer, I. H., Frost, D. M., & Stirratt, M. J. (2009). Social and psychological well-being in lesbians, gay men, and bisexuals: The effects of race, gender, age, and sexual identity. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 79(4), 500–510. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0016848
[21].Kuyper, L., & Fokkema, T. (2011). Minority stress and mental health among Dutch LGBs: Examination of differences between sex and sexual orientation. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 58(2), 222–233. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0022688
[22].Legate, N., Ryan, R. M., & Weinstein, N. (2011). Is coming out always a “good thing”? Exploring the relations of autonomy support, outness, and wellness for lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals. Social Psychological and Personality Science, 3(2), 145–152. https://doi.org/10.1177/1948550611411929
[23].Maslow, A. H. (1943). A theory of human motivation. Psychological Review, 50(4), 370–396. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0054346
[24].McConnell, E. A., Janulis, P., Phillips, G., Truong, R., & Birkett, M. (2018). Multiple minority stress and LGBT community resilience among sexual minority men. Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity, 5(1), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1037/sgd0000265
[25].McGarrity, L. A. (2014). Socioeconomic status as context for minority stress and health disparities among lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals. Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity, 1(4), 383–397. https://doi.org/10.1037/sgd0000067
[26].McLaren, S. (2009). Sense of belonging to the general and lesbian communities as predictors of depression among lesbians. Journal of Homosexuality, 56(1), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1080/00918360802551365
[27].Meyer, I. H. (2003). Prejudice, social stress, and mental health in lesbian, gay, and bisexual populations: Conceptual issues and research evidence. Psychological Bulletin, 129(5), 674–697. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.129.5.674
[28].Pease, M. V., Le, T. P., & Ahn, L. H. (2024). Family rejection and LGBTQ+ Asian Americans’ psychological distress and disordered eating: The role of conflicts in allegiances and family shame. Cultural Diversity & Ethnic Minority Psychology, 31(2), 285–295. https://doi.org/10.1037/cdp0000633
[29].Roberts, E. R., Lee, M. F., Simpson, K., Kelley, N. J., Sedikides, C., & Angus, D. J. (2024). Authenticity, well-being, and minority stress in LGB individuals: A scoping review. Journal of Homosexuality, 72(7), 1–28. https://doi.org/10.1080/00918369.2024.2378738
[30].Rohner, R. P. (2021). Introduction to interpersonal acceptance–rejection theory (IPARTheory) and evidence. Online Readings in Psychology and Culture, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.9707/2307-0919.1055
[31].Ryan, C., Russell, S. T., Huebner, D., Diaz, R., & Sanchez, J. (2010). Family acceptance in adolescence and the health of LGBT young adults. Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing, 23(4), 205–213. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-6171.2010.00246.x
[32].Seo, J. (2023). Why does the impact of psychological empowerment increase employees’ knowledge-sharing intention? A moderated mediation model of belonging and perceived organizational support. Behavioral Sciences, 13(5), 387. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs13050387
[33].Shilo, G., & Mor, Z. (2014). The impact of minority stressors on the mental and physical health of lesbian, gay, and bisexual youths and young adults. Health & Social Work, 39(3), 161–171. https://doi.org/10.1093/hsw/hlu023
[34].Simon, E., Levin, J. B., Mbwambo, J., Blixen, C., Lema, I., Aebi, M., Njiro, G., Cassidy, K., Kaaya, S., & Sajatovic, M. (2021). Alcohol use in Tanzanians with chronic psychotic disorders and poor medication adherence. South African Journal of Psychiatry, 27. https://doi.org/10.4102/sajpsychiatry.v27i0.1570
[35].Snapp, S. D., Watson, R. J., Russell, S. T., Diaz, R. M., & Ryan, C. (2015). Social support networks for LGBT young adults: Low cost strategies for positive adjustment. Family Relations, 64(3), 420–430. https://doi.org/10.1111/fare.12124
[36].Spreitzer, G. M. (1995). Psychological empowerment in the workplace: Dimensions, measurement, and validation. Academy of Management Journal, 38(5), 1442–1465. https://doi.org/10.5465/256865
[37].Tajfel, H., & Turner, J. C. (1979). An integrative theory of intergroup conflict. In W. G. Austin & S. Worchel (Eds.), The social psychology of intergroup relations (pp. 33–47). Brooks/Cole.
[38].Tanaka, K., Davidson, L., & Craig, T. J. (2018). Sense of clubhouse community belonging and empowerment. International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 64(3), 276–285. https://doi.org/10.1177/0020764018759134
[39].Velez, B. L., & Moradi, B. (2016). A moderated mediation test of minority stress. The Counseling Psychologist, 44(8), 1132–1157. https://doi.org/10.1177/0011000016665467
[40].Walsh, F. (2016). Family resilience: A developmental systems framework. European Journal of Developmental Psychology, 13(3), 313–324. https://doi.org/10.1080/17405629.2016.1154035
[41].Wilson, C., & Cariola, L. A. (2019). LGBTQI+ youth and mental health: A systematic review of qualitative research. Adolescent Research Review, 5(1), 187–211. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40894-019-00118-w
[42].Yip, A. K. T. (2005). Queering religious texts: An exploration of British non-heterosexual Christians’ and Muslims’ strategy of constructing sexuality-affirming hermeneutics. Sociology, 39(1), 47–65. https://doi.org/10.1177/0038038505049000
[43].Zimmerman, M. A. (1995). Psychological empowerment: Issues and illustrations. American Journal of Community Psychology, 23(5), 581–599. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02506983
Copyright © 2026 Vo Minh Vinh, Nguyen Ngo Phuong Lam
Publishing time:2026-01-08
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License