On the Link Between Reciprocal/Authoritarian Filial Piety and Internalized Homonegativity: Perceived Pressure to Get Married in a Heterosexual Marriage as a Mediator

Abstract

Previous research has revealed that filial piety belief plays a critical role in self-acceptance of sexual orientation, but studies have rarely examined whether and how reciprocal (i.e., providing care and support based on affective bonding) and authoritarian (i.e., showing unconditional obedience to parents because of parental authority) filial piety contribute to internalized homonegativity. A total of 477 Chinese lesbian, gay, bisexual, questioning/queer, or other non-heterosexual (LGBQ +) adults participated in this study. These participants completed a battery of measures for reciprocal and authoritarian filial piety, perceived internalized, social, and parental pressure to get married in a heterosexual marriage, internalized heteronormativity, socially oriented identity (i.e., negative beliefs about how others in society would negatively treat them because of their sexual orientation), and family-oriented identity (e.g., guilt related to filial piety and worries about present and future life). The results indicated that higher reciprocal filial piety was directly associated with higher internalized heteronormativity. Higher authoritarian filial piety had a direct link with higher family-oriented identity. In addition, authoritarian filial piety was positively associated with internalized heteronormativity through internalized pressure to get married; authoritarian filial piety had a positive link with socially oriented identity through perceived social pressure to get married; authoritarian filial piety was positively related to family-oriented identity through perceived parental pressure to get married. Conclusions: Authoritarian filial piety is a risk factor for internalized homonegativity, and perceived pressure to get married in a heterosexual marriage might be the underlying mechanism for the relationship between authoritarian filial piety and internalized homonegativity.

Keywords: Authoritarian filial piety; Chinese sexual minorities; Internalized homonegativity; Reciprocal filial piety; Sexual orientation.