LE3 .A278 2023

2023

Holmberg, Diane

Acadia University

Bachelor of Science

Honours

Psychology

Psychology

Narrative identity is the ever-evolving perception of our past, present, and imagined future selves. Our narrative identity is punctuated with narrative episodes: low, high, and turning points of our autobiographical memories. Framing of these memories is important for well-being; however, there is limited research on how memory framing applies to the LGBTQ+ community. Do individuals who came out to a parent frame the low, high, and turning points of their experience differently based on their level of psychological well-being? The present study sought to explore this research question. Participant responses (N= 960) to an open-ended survey question were divided into low or high well-being groups based on their scores relative to the sample median score on a mental health measure, the MHI-5. These responses were then analysed using reflexive thematic analysis as a guiding methodology. Six themes were found, which centred around anxiety, disproval, acceptance/support, identity/self-concept, communication/other relationships, and relief/ongoing processes. Participants in high and low well-being groups framed their coming out experiences differently. Those higher in well-being provided more narration, disclosed more negative coming out experiences, and discussed more issues related to self-growth and resiliency. Support for hedonic adaptation is evident.

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https://scholar.acadiau.ca/islandora/object/theses:3975