Interpersonal Acceptance–Rejection Theory: Application to Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Persons

Abstract

Many researchers have focused on parents' responses to their child's sexual identity. Although this type of research has been conducted over the past 2 decades on the impact of coming out, there is not a consistently implemented theoretical orientation used across lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) literature for describing and understanding the implications of coming out. However, interpersonal acceptance–rejection theory (IPARTheory) can be used as a framework to describe the experiences of acceptance–rejection LGB people face after disclosure. Many of the constructs outlined in IPARTheory are present throughout the literature on LGB coming‐out experiences, but a more thorough understanding of the implications of LGB parental acceptance–rejection across the life span is needed, especially as it affects psychological well‐being and adult relationship development. Several aspects of IPARTheory that need to be developed further to encompass the ways LGB people experience parental acceptance–rejection are discussed. Further, suggestions are made to better measure the specific types of acceptance–rejection faced by LGB people when they come out.