Military Service Members’ Satisfaction With Outness: Implications for Mental Health

This study is among the first examining lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) service members in the United States following the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy repeal. Higher levels of outness predict better mental health among general LGB populations. The military environment, like other traditional/con...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Armed forces and society 2019-01, Vol.45 (1), p.140-154
Main Authors: Evans, Wyatt R., Bliss, Sebastian J., Rincon, Christina M., Johnston, Scott L., Bhakta, Jagruti P., Webb-Murphy, Jennifer A., Goldblum, Peter, Balsam, Kimberly F.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anxiety
Armed forces
Bisexuality
Health care
Health care policy
Lesbianism
Medical personnel
Mental depression
Mental health
Mental health services
Military personnel
Military policy
Military service
Policy making
Satisfaction
Servicemen
Sexual orientation
Symptoms
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Summary:This study is among the first examining lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) service members in the United States following the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy repeal. Higher levels of outness predict better mental health among general LGB populations. The military environment, like other traditional/conservative settings, may alter this relation; however, no data are available on outness among LGB service members in the United States. We examined 236 service members’level of outness and satisfaction with outness in relation to depression and anxiety symptoms. Results revealed greater level of outness was related to higher satisfaction with outness, with each variable related to better mental health. Importantly, satisfaction fully mediated the relation between level of outness and mental health, indicating satisfaction to be a more salient predictor than level alone. Findings relevant to military policy makers and health-care providers are discussed along with recommendations for advancement of research into outness among LGB people.
ISSN:0095-327X
1556-0848
DOI:10.1177/0095327X17751111