The coming-out process is a critical milestone in LGBTQ+ identity development, involving internal self-recognition of one’s sexual orientation or gender identity and external disclosure to others. Theory of Mind (ToM), the ability to infer others’ mental states, may influence this process by enhancing self-awareness and facilitating navigation of the social complexities surrounding identity disclosure. This study investigates ToM’s role in predicting earlier self-recognition and a smaller temporal gap between inner realization and external coming out, alongside the impact of concealment, internalized sexual stigma (ISS), self-esteem, and bullying.

A total of 148 LGBTQ+ adolescents aged 13–19 years (M=16.1, SD=1.19) participated in an online survey. The sample included 137 participants assigned female and 11 assigned male at birth, with 13 identifying as transgender, 23 as nonbinary, and 112 as cisgender. Regarding sexual orientation, 28 identified as gay or lesbian, 34 as bisexual, 26 as queer, and 25 as pansexual. Participants completed validated measures of ToM, self-esteem, ISS, concealment, and bullying, along with assessments of key coming-out milestones. Hierarchical regression analyses were conducted to examine ToM’s predictive value while controlling for these psychosocial variables.

Results showed that higher ToM abilities were significantly associated with a shorter temporal gap between inner and external coming out and earlier external disclosures, but ToM did not predict earlier self-recognition. Concealment was strongly correlated with ISS and self-esteem but unrelated to ToM. Anticipated negative reactions from schoolmates predicted longer durations of concealment, while bullying negatively impacted self-esteem and was linked to delayed coming out.

These findings suggest that ToM plays a critical role in facilitating external coming out by enabling LGBTQ+ youth to anticipate and navigate the complexities of disclosure. However, self-recognition processes may rely more on introspective and emotional mechanisms. Addressing stigma, reducing bullying, and fostering supportive peer environments may encourage earlier and more positive coming-out experiences.

Introduction: Social safety is a fundamental human need essential for personal development and meaningful social relationships. While most individuals assume that society is safe for them unless proven otherwise, LGBTQ+ individuals often face direct and indirect stigma, which can compromise their sense of social safety. As a result, they may become hypervigilant to social safety cues and perceive others as unsafe until proven otherwise. This heightened vigilance can affect their emotional and cognitive functioning, shaping their behaviour in social interactions and making social safety a central concern in their lives. Therefore, the aim of this study is to better understand LGBTQ+ individuals' perceptions of social (in)security in Lithuania and to explore the emotional, cognitive, and behavioural reactions associated with it.

Methods: A qualitative study was conducted using a maximum variation sampling technique to capture a wide range of experiences. To date, seven semi-structured interviews have been conducted with LGBTQ+ adults (aged 21-30) living in Lithuania, with data collection still ongoing to achieve saturation. Reflexive thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2022) was employed to analyse and interpret the data.

Preliminary Results: Complete findings will be presented at the conference; however, preliminary analyses suggest the emergence of the following themes: a constant sense of threat (sub-themes: the need to remain invisible, a persistent state of hypervigilance) and the experience of social safety as the absence of hypervigilance (sub-themes: a feeling of recognition, the creation of a safe bubble, and a desire to be seen as „one of you“). These themes may evolve as data collection and analysis continue.

Conclusions: The findings of this study support the notion that social safety is a central theme in the lives of LGBTQ+ individuals, shaping their interactions and behavioural choices. Additionally, the results highlight the intensity of cognitive and physiological responses to potential social threats.

Developmental research has established that experiencing normative life events off-time from peers is associated with increased challenges. One of these normative events is the transition to active partnered sexuality, which happens in late adolescence or early adulthood for most youth. Research has shown that adult virgins experience both self-stigma and social stigma. However, we know little regarding the relational and dyadic stigma one may experience following their virginity disclosure. Methods. An online questionnaire has been completed by 1891 adults (M_age = 27.27 ± 7.88 y.o.; 55% women; 52% heterosexual; 36% religious). Participants were asked: “You are single, and you meet a single person whose personality and physical appearance appeal to you. This person informs you that they are a virgin. What are your immediate thoughts?”. Results. Thematic analyses revealed that most participants’ reactions were found to be ambivalent (34.6%; “A little bit of hesitance”) or positive (33.6%; “Relieved because I’m also a virgin. I feel that they would be less judgmental”), followed by neutral answers (26.4%; “I don’t really care), and rarely, negative thoughts (5.4%; “I'm kind of turned off”). Chi-square analyses found that (1) sexually experienced participants (92.2%) reported significantly more neutral and ambivalent reactions than sexually inexperienced participants (7.8%; χ² = 13.173, p = 0.004); (2) permanent singles (26.5%) reported significantly more positive reactions and fewer ambivalent reactions than previously partnered singles (24.1%, χ² = 58.267, p = < 0.001). Discussion. The higher occurrence of ambivalent and positive reactions, coupled with the low occurrence of negative reactions, seem to be indicative of a shift in perceptions on adulthood virginity, parallel to its rise. The increase of decelerated sexorelational developmental trajectories, as well as the developmental implications of these findings, will be discussed.

Background: Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) reportedly have more diverse gender identities than typically developing individuals. “Gender dysphoria (GD),” marked by a persistent incongruence between one’s assigned sex at birth and one’s gender identity, is associated with autistic traits (de Vries et al., 2010). Those with both ASD and GD—often called “double minorities”—experience social adaptation difficulties and negative mental health outcomes (Strang et al., 2023). “Camouflaging,” or masking autistic traits, has gained attention as a factor contributing to such difficulties in ASD. This behavior also appears in non-binary ASD individuals, a subset of GD, and may affect mental health (Hull et al., 2020). However, research on camouflaging and mental health in ASD+GD remains limited. Therefore, this study examined camouflaging behavior and mental health in adults with comorbid ASD and GD.

Method: Participants were adults (18+) diagnosed with GD, ASD, or both. Autistic traits were measured with the Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ), gender dysphoria with the Utrecht Gender Dysphoria Scale–Gender Spectrum (UGDS-DS), camouflaging with the Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire (CAT-Q), and mental health with the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). A one-way ANOVA compared scores among three groups: GD only (n = 170), ASD only (n = 278), and ASD+GD (n = 27).

Results: Compared to GD-only and ASD-only groups, the ASD+GD group showed higher autistic traits (F(2, 472) = 30.51, p < .001) and higher mental health symptom scores (F(2, 472) = 9.27, p < .001). Moreover, compared to the ASD-only group, the ASD+GD group scored significantly higher on gender dysphoria (F(2, 472) = 599.65, p < .001) and camouflaging (F(2, 472) = 4.64, p < .001). These findings suggest that double-minority individuals exhibit stronger autistic traits, greater gender dysphoria, more pronounced mental health difficulties, and increased camouflaging behaviors.

The study of how individuals with autism experience and interpret their gender and sexuality is a rapidly expanding field that provides insight into how identities are formed in neurodiverse groups. A systematic literature review of recent studies, encompassing publications of 2020 to 2025, demonstrates higher prevalence of gender diversity and non-heteronormative identities among individuals with autism compared to the neurotypical population. Individuals with autism are more likely to identify as nonbinary, gender-fluid, or transgender, and they frequently feel not limited by traditional gender norms. They also tend to think of gender identity as an intrinsic, cognitive experience rather than a merely social one, with some using terminology like “autigender” to describe the distinct influence of autism on their gender identification. In addition, increased rates of gender dysphoria and social disconnection have been reported, with several individuals expressing sensory related discomfort rather than traditional dysphoria. Autistic individuals are also more likely to identify as asexual, bisexual, or sexually fluid. Masking and social camouflage further complicate gender identity development, especially for individuals with autism assigned female at birth. Despite these common findings, research offers different theories for why autism and gender/sexual variation frequently co-occur. The aim of the present study is to investigate how individuals with autism navigate and construct their gender identities within contemporary social frameworks. Instead of pathologizing these experiences, contemporary viewpoints frame them within a neurodiversity-affirming way that acknowledges autism as a distinct lens through which gender and sexuality are perceived and expressed. By systematically analyzing recent research on autism, gender and sexuality, the study seeks to identify recurring and divergent themes and perspectives that contribute to the understanding of gender diversity within the autism population. Furthermore, this review examines how autistic individuals conceptualize gender identity, how societal norms and expectations influence their self-perception, and the role of neurodiversity in shaping identity.