Disclosure to family and well-being among bi+ youth: The role of authenticity and family bullying.

This article examines how disclosure of a bisexual-plus (bi+) identity to family influences well-being among bi+ youth aged 15–29 in Canada, focusing on the mediating role of authenticity and the mediating or moderating role of family bullying. Using data from a pan-Canadian online survey of 954 bisexual and pansexual youth, the study finds that disclosure to family is positively associated with well-being through increased authenticity, but this beneficial effect is diminished or negated in the presence of family bullying. Family bullying, primarily perpetrated by parents and often targeting sexual orientation or gender expression, undermines the capacity of disclosure to foster authenticity and thus well-being. The study highlights that these dynamics are consistent across developmental periods from adolescence to emerging adulthood and underscores the importance of supportive, non-bullying family environments for the flourishing of bi+ youth.