本研究以跨群體溝通(intergroup communication)的理論視角,透過深度訪談八對同志與其家人代表,試圖探索同志現身後與家人間重整其家庭關係與認同的溝通維繫策略。研究結果發現,家長與同志子女間傾向以開放式討論、間接行動參與,及子女同理父母等綜合策略維繫其家庭關係;同志與其手足間的關係維繫大體上未出現劇烈轉變,多數以開放式討論持續關係互動;家長、同志、與手足間的互動側重於手足扮演「中間人」(intermediaries)的關係協商面貌。作者並在文末就華人重視家庭關係的文化脈絡,提出出櫃同志與原生家庭間的關係維繫與互動建議。
Based on the intergroup communication perspective, in-depth interviews were conducted with eight pairs of homosexual individuals and chosen members of their families to explore how they rebuilt and maintained family relationships after the disclosure of homosexual sexual identity. The findings suggest that parents and their homosexual children were likely to maintain their relationships through open discussion, and empathy strategies. Homosexual individuals and their siblings mostly maintained stable relationships by employing open discussion. Relational maintenance and identity negotiation among homosexuals, their siblings, and parents largely relied on siblings acting as intermediaries. Finally, the study made suggestions with potential to help homosexual individuals who already came out maintain relationships with their original family members.