This work explored the ways in which the theoretical constructs of gay identity development, relational satisfaction, and outness interact in gay-male emerging adults. Informed by the literature on these constructs, the researcher developed a structural model to evaluate the interactive and mediating roles within the model. Three instruments were selected to assist in measuring these theoretical constructs. The Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Identity Scale (LGBIS) measured gay identity development, the Gay and Lesbian Relationship Satisfaction Scale (GLRSS) measured relational satisfaction, and the Nebraska Outness Scale (NOS) measured outness. A sample of 206 cisgender gay men in Emerging Adulthood (ages 19-29) were recruited from LGBTQ+ Community Centers, Post-secondary Pride Centers, and electronically through the MTurk crowd sourcing platform. Data gathered from these participants was evaluated via Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to examine the relationship between the variables and understand how outness (NOS) and relationship satisfaction (GLRSS) mediate gay identity development (LGBIS). Results of confirmatory factor analysis of all three measures show considerable concerns. This study was unable to confirm author supplied factor structures for any of the instruments used in this work. Results of this study should be considered with extreme caution as the instrumentation used may be flawed and may not have actually measured the intended theoretical constructs. Discussion, consideration of findings, limitations, and areas for future research are given with caution
