Brian L. B. Willoughby

Religion, Self-Regulation, and Self-Control: Associations, Explanations, and Implications.

Many of the links of religiousness with health, well-being, and social behavior may be due to religions influences on self-control or self-regulation. Using Carver and Scheiers (1998) theory of self-regulation as a framework for organizing the empirical research, the authors review evidence relevant to 6 propositions: (a) that religion can promote self-control; (b) that religion influences how goals are selected, pursued, and organized; (c) that religion facilitates self-monitoring; (d) that religion fosters the development of self-regulatory strength; (e) that religion prescribes and fosters proficiency in a suite of self-regulatory behaviors; and (f) that some of religions influences on health, well-being, and social behavior may result from religions influences on self-control and self-regulation. The authors conclude with suggestions for future research.

Sexuality related social support among lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth.

Lesbian, gay, and bisexual (“LGB”) youth may face significant stressors related to their sexual orientation. Few studies, however, have examined youth’s experiences of support for coping with these stressors. The current study compared LGB youth’s perceptions of support for sexuality stress to their support for other types of problems. The links between sexuality stress, sexuality support, and emotional distress were also examined. Ninety-eight LGB youth (ages 18–21, 33% female) rated support from family, heterosexual friends, and sexual minority friends for dealing with problems related, and not related, to their sexuality. From family and heterosexual friends, support for sexuality stress was less available than support for other stressors. Sexual minority friends provided the highest levels of sexuality support. In regression analyses, higher levels of sexuality support related to decreased emotional distress and buffered against the negative effects of sexuality stress on emotional distress. Sexuality support, although less available than other types of support, may be especially relevant to mental health among LGB youth.

Victimization, Family Rejection, and Outcomes of Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Young People: The Role of Negative GLB Identity

Victimization and family rejection of sexual orientation are two salient stressors facing gay, lesbian, and bisexual (GLB) young people. While initial research has established a link between these sexuality-related stressors and GLB youths’ mental health outcomes, the factors that underlie this relationship remain unclear. The current study examines the role of negative GLB identity (i.e., negative feelings about ones own sexual orientation) in mediating the relationship between sexuality-related stress (i.e., victimization, family rejection) and youth outcomes (i.e., internalizing problems, substance use, and cigarette smoking). Participants included 81 GLB young people (ages 14 to 25 years) recruited through college groups, youth organizations, study advertisements, and friend referrals. Path analyses revealed that victimization and family rejection experiences were related to youths internalizing problems via negative GLB identity. However, stressors and health risk behaviors were not related through negative GLB identity, although some direct relationships between stressors, substance use, and smoking emerged. Limitations and implications of the present study are discussed.

Parental Reactions to Their Child's Sexual Orientation Disclosure: A Family Stress Perspective

SYNOPSIS Existing theories of child and family development have rarely been applied to the families of same-sex-attracted young people. This review employs family stress theory as a framework to understand parental reactions to their childs sexual orientation disclosure and the impact of parental reactions on child and family development. Empirical evidence is reviewed to support the notion that parental reactions may depend on (1) the availability of family-based resources to manage the stress, (2) the meaning attributed to the stressful event, and (3) the pileup of co-occurring stressors taxing a familys coping resources. Empirical links between parental reactions and child outcomes are also discussed. There is need for research on individual, dyadic, and family factors that influence parental responses to their childs same-sex attractions.

Who Hates Gender Outlaws? A Multisite and Multinational Evaluation of the Genderism and Transphobia Scale

ABSTRACT Four independent studies conducted in three different countries evaluated the strength of the Genderism and Transphobia Scale (GTS; Hill & Willoughby, 2005), a recently developed measure of anti-trans sentiments and behaviors. Study 1 utilized the GTS to examine anti-trans attitudes among mental health professionals. Study 2 employed the GTS to evaluate the effects of personal contact with transpersons, conformity, and perceived threat to social cohesion on attitudes toward gender nonconformity. Study 3 examined the reliability, validity, and factor structure of the GTS among college students in the Philippines. Lastly, Study 4, conducted in Canada, used variables from the general literature on prejudice to create a comprehensive model predicting genderism and transphobia. Collectively, results of this multinational, multisite study further support the reliability and validity of the GTS and elucidate factors associated with anti-trans sentiments and behaviors.

GENDER IDENTITY DISORDERS IN CHILDHOOD AND ADOLESCENCE

Abstract While debates continue as to whether or not a diagnosis of gender identity disorder (GID) is wanted or needed by todays adult transsexual, there is increasing concern both in academic and lay literature regarding the diagnosis of children and adolescents with GID. This paper critically evaluates the diagnosis, assessment, and treatment of GID in children and adolescents in light of published controversies, evidence, and arguments in psychological, psychiatric, and lay discourse since the release of the DSM-IV. In the years since GIDs first inclusion in the DSM-III, growing criticisms weigh heavily against the diagnosis of GID in children and adolescents. This analysis urges a re-evaluation of the GID diagnosis for children and, to a lesser extent, adolescents. Overall, there is deepening discomfort with pathologizing children and youth for extreme gender variance. Since this is a highly contentious diagnosis-with little established reliability and validity, and problematic assessment and treatment approaches-researchers and clinicians need to establish that GID is validly diagnosed with nonbiased assessments and treated effectively in accordance with current Standards.

Peer Crowd Affiliations of Adult Gay Men: Linkages With Health Risk Behaviors

The social networks of adult gay men play important roles in both the promotion and prevention of health risk. The current investigation had 2 primary goals. First, this study examined the existence of gay peer crowds using the opinions of a large (N 340) online sample of self-identified gay men. Second, it explored how these peer crowd affiliations may be differentially related to health risk. All participants provided demographic information, opinions regarding the existence of gay peer crowds, and subjective ratings of identification with each crowd. Information regarding marijuana and other drug use, binge drinking, smoking, unprotected sex, and steroid use was also collected. The majority of men surveyed believed in the existence of gay peer crowds. Identifying with Circuit Partiers, Bears, Muscle Boys, Granolas, and Goths was related to adverse health behaviors. Low-risk peer crowd affiliations included Suburbans, Professionals, Twinks, and Activists. These effects were above and beyond those of age, income, and education. Implications for future research and intervention efforts with gay men are discussed.

Family Therapy with Sexual Minority Youths: A Systematic Review

There is no consensus about best practices for therapy with sexual minority youths and their families because (1) information is scattered across years (1987–2013) and (2) a breadth of therapeutic orientations is represented. This article systematically reviews and synthesizes all existing work to present cohesive guidelines for therapists. Research databases were searched for articles published through June 2013 that reported on any common issues, strategies, or research findings for family therapy in which a young person has adopted a sexual minority identity or reported same-sex attractions, and the focus was explicitly on disclosure of same-sex orientation. Fifteen studies (12 clinical writing articles and 3 articles with outcome data) that reported on issues or recommendations for therapy were evaluated. The authors categorized recommendations into two areas: treatment logistics (e.g., session structure and type) and therapeutic content issues (e.g., parental meaning to coming out). There is considerable variation in recommendations for therapy with sexual minority youths and families, and 20% of it has been empirically evaluated. The consensus is that neither parents nor youths are blamed for same-sex orientation, and are utilized as resources for each other instead, using specific strategies delineated in the review.

Neuropsychological function in a child with 18p deletion syndrome: a case report.

We report the neuropsychological profile of a 4-year-old boy with the rare 18p deletion syndrome. We used a battery of standardized tests to assess his development in intellect, language, visuomotor integration, academic readiness, socialization, and emotional and behavioral health. The results showed borderline intellectual function except for low average nonverbal reasoning skills. He had stronger receptive than expressive language skills, although both were well below his age group. He had impaired visuomotor integration and pre-academic skills such as letter identification. Emotional and behavioral findings indicated mild aggressiveness, anxiety, low frustration tolerance, and executive function weaknesses, especially at home. Interestingly, he showed social strengths, responding to joint attention and sharing enjoyment with his examiner. With its assessment of development in many domains, this case report is among the first to characterize the neuropsychological and psychiatric function of a young child with 18p deletion syndrome. We discuss the implications of our findings for clinical practice.