Thesis Defense by Zeynep Ezgi Mater

You are cordially invited to join the online Thesis Defense by Zeynep Ezgi Mater (Psychology Master’s Degree Program-Thesis) on Thursday May 27, 2021 at 10:00.

The title and the meeting links are as follows: 

Thesis Subject: Coming Out Experiences of Lesbian and Gay Youth and Their Parents: A Qualitative Study in Turkey

Thesis Advisor : Dr. Senem Zeytinoğlu

Join Zoom Meeting:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82654388165?pwd=a0RlNWJDeFVUTmJFMDhDOElyc3pkUT09

Meeting ID: 826 5438 8165

Passcode: 048781 

Abstract: This study is aimed to explore deeply the experiences of lesbian and gay youth in coming out process. Ten families who participated included mothers and lesbian/gay youth ranging in ages of 21 to 33. In participants of youth, three of them defines themselves as lesbian, and rest defines as gay.  Thematic analysis using Family systems theory as a base is used to analyse 20 interviews. Nine themes (numbers) and fifteen subthemes (letters) have emerged from thematic analysis of coming out experiences of gay youth and parents as following: 1) youth’s acceptance of self as a process, 1a) experiencing confusion and isolation in coming out to oneself, 1b) motivation to come out: the burden of being closeted, 2) suspicion prior to coming out, 2a) youth suspicion of family’s suspicion, 2b) suspicion of parents, 3) youth’s negative expectations about the outcome, 3a) being worried about the outcome prior to coming out, 3b) Anticipation of negative reactions from parents, 4) youth using the opportunity of the context to come out, 5) initial reactions of youth and parents, 5a) initial feelings of parents and youth, 5b) initial non-acceptance of family,  6) families’ acceptance as a process, 6a) youth’s effort of explaining themselves in searching for family’s acceptance, 6b) increasing familial acceptance in time, 6c) Parents’ motivation for acceptance: My Child, 6d) despite parents’ background experiences, their characteristics eased the way, 7) youth feeling free to be themselves after relieving the burden of being closeted, 7a) shielding effect of families’ acceptance on youth to be themselves, 8) better relationships in family after coming out, 9) reflections on the process, 9a) social & cultural effects, 9b) Coming out process being a difficult experience. Further subthemes of subthemes are explained in the results section with quotes from participants. These themes overall highlight the characteristics of coming out as a process in the line with other studies in the field. Moreover, clinical implications of the study are discussed.

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