Gay people who "come out" in high school have better chances of becoming well adjusted adults, according to a study conducted by the University of Arizona.
The research, entitled "Being out at school: The implications for school victimisation and young adult adjustment" was recently published in the American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, with the goal of providing a basis for the training of school-based health and mental health providers and coming out with informed school policies and practices to deal with the issue of homosexuality.
The study was based on a survey of 245 LGBT young adults in California who have "come out" during middle and high school. The respondents were between 21-25 years old.
According to the findings, "disclosure of LGBT status in adolescents has been linked to victimisation in school and negative adjustment."
But Stephen Russel, lead author of the study, said that their research found that the abuse happened whether or not the students tried to hide their sexual orientation.
"I think one of the sobering things we learned is that saying you're out to others is linked to victimisation and saying you need to hide was linked to victimisation," Russell said.
However, after factoring in the bullying, young adults who were out in high school reported lower depression and higher self-esteem compared to their counterparts who stayed in the closet.
The study indicated that attempts to hide one's sexual orientation were generally unsuccessful and eventually led to depression.
It also found out that those who come out as LGBT as adults are more accepted after disclosing their sexual orientations.
"What's needed are supporting environments so that all kids can figure out and be as true to themselves as they can be," Russel said. "I think what's promising about this study is even though coming out comes with risks, being out is going to come with benefits in the long run."
