Employing Memory Narratives to Dissect the Well-Being of Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Adolescents

The relationship between lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) identities and negative psychoemotional outcomes among teens is well established; this study analyzed happy memory narratives written by 390 LGB adolescents to investigate positive life experiences that might improve the well-being of LGB youth. A significant number of narratives were classified as everyday leisure or special occasions. Happy memory narratives were also highly likely to reference friends. Few LGB adolescents recalled LGB-specific events. The data suggest LGB adolescents recall happy memories that would be considered normalized experiences similar to those of heterosexual adolescents. Implications for understanding the well-being of LGB youth are discussed.