New research suggests that gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender adolescents who come out at school have higher self-esteem and lower levels of depressions as young adults, compared to LGBT youth who do not disclose their sexual orientation or gender identity at school.

Researchers at the University of Arizona found that students experienced victimization and bullying in high school because of their LGBT identity, whether they came out or not. However, those who were open about their sexual orientation or gender identity in high school reported higher self-esteem and life satisfaction as young adults than those who did not disclose, or who tried to conceal, their sexual orientation or gender identity from others at school.

Those who came out at school also reported lower levels of depression as young adults. The results were the same across genders and ethnicities.

"Until now, a key question about balancing the need to protect LGBT youth from harm while promoting their well-being has not been addressed: Do the benefits of coming out at school outweigh the increased risk of victimization? Our study points to the positive role of coming out for youth and young adult well-being," Stephen Russell, director of the Frances McClelland Institute for Children, Youth and Families in the UA's John and Doris Norton School of Family and Consumer Sciences, said in a statement.

For the study, researchers examined data from the Family Acceptance Project, which involved 245 white and Latino LGBT young adults ages 21 to 25.

Russell said the new findings, showing that being out at school contributes to well-being later on, will be important for educating parents, school officials and others about how to provide the best support and guidance for LGBT students.

"The thing that's encouraging is that we've found being out is good for you," Russell, who also is the Fitch Nesbitt Endowed Chair in the Norton School, part of the UA College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, said.

"This is clearly aligned with everything we know about identity. Being able to be who we are is crucial to mental health," Russell said.

The findings are detailed in the American Journal of Orthopsychiatry.