Sach Ja, Santiago Silva Volume 1, Issue 3, Pag 208–221 doi:10.15241/sjj.1.3.208 Article published onle: January 2012 Abstract Full article (PDF) Full article (HTML) CE Hours available One of the major flaws current psychologil tts is the belief that a predictn/diagnosis n be ma that would tell an dividual whether he is heterosexual, homosexual or bisexual. What is need wh the profsn, however, is an asssment that has the sensivy to help clients explore their sexual orientatn. A pilot 100-em Sexual Orientatn Sle was veloped after terviewg 30 self-intified gay men who nsired themselv happy/satisfied. The ems summarized the thoughts and feelgs of the 30 men durg the disvery procs and ultimate acceptance of their sexual orientatn. The sle was then pleted by 208 male participants. The Cronbach’s Alpha Coefficient was lculated for the ial 100-em versn of the Sexual Orientatn Sle along wh em analysis and factor analysis. The statistil manipulatns were puted to help elimate ems that did not discrimate well. The fal versn of the Sexual Orientatn ntas 43 ems. Implitns for the e of this sle and future directns rearch are further explored.
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SAMPLG SURVEYS OF LBIAN, GAY, AND BISEXUAL PEOPLE
* homosexual samples *
Dpe the persistence of stereotyp that portray lbian, gay, and bisexual people as disturbed, several s of rearch and clil experience have led all mastream medil and mental health anizatns this untry to nclu that the orientatns reprent normal forms of human experience. Helpful rpons of a therapist treatg an dividual who is troubled about her or his same sex attractns clu helpg that person actively pe wh social prejudic agast homosexualy, succsfully rolve issu associated wh and rultg om ternal nflicts, and actively lead a happy and satisfyg life. The phrase “g out” is ed to refer to several aspects of lbian, gay, and bisexual persons’ experienc: self-awarens of same-sex attractns; the tellg of one or a few people about the attractns; wispread disclosure of same-sex attractns; and intifitn wh the lbian, gay, and bisexual muny.
Th, is not surprisg that lbians and gay men who feel they mt nceal their sexual orientatn report more equent mental health ncerns than do lbians and gay men who are more open; they may even have more physil health problems. Lbian, gay, and bisexual youth who do well spe strs—like all adolcents who do well spe strs—tend to be those who are socially petent, who have good problem-solvg skills, who have a sense of tonomy and purpose, and who look forward to the future. If they are a heterosexual relatnship, their experienc may be que siar to those of people who intify as heterosexual unls they choose to e out as bisexual; that se, they will likely face some of the same prejudice and discrimatn that lbian and gay dividuals enunter.