Embodied, Situated, and Co-Constructed: Young Sexual Minority Men’s Experiences of Intersectional Identity and Minority Stress

Psychodrama as group intervention on minority stress, identity and psychosocial well-being of LGBTQ+ Italian young adults: A qualitative case study

BACKGROUND

Growing attention is given to LGBTQ+ well-being, mainly using the minority stress model, although it's seldom applied in group therapy research. This study aims to investigate individual experiences and identity processes related to minority stress while exploring the effectiveness of group psychodrama on LGBTQ+ well-being and stress levels.

METHODS

Seven LGBTQ+ participants aged 19 to 27 years attended 10 weekly sessions of group psychodrama. The study utilized a qualitative exploratory case study design, where interview data underwent inductive thematic analysis and were triangulated with quantitative data concerning well-being, alexithymia, and LGBT Minority Stress.

RESULTS

Participants manage their minority-contextualized identity and stigma within their narratives, indicating that group psychodrama may benefit young LGBTQ+ adults by raising awareness and resolving stressors.

CONCLUSIONS

The study validates the minority stress model but suggests broader theoretical integration, emphasizing the role of social identity and therapeutic impact of psychodrama in managing minority stress.

Health disparities in one of the world's most progressive countries: a scoping review of mental health and substance use among sexual and gender minority people in the Netherlands

BACKGROUND

Evidence from many parts of the world shows that sexual and gender minority (SGM) people have poorer health than their cisgender heterosexual counterparts. Minority stressors, particularly stigma and discrimination, have been identified as major contributors to sexual orientation- and gender identity-related health disparities, particularly negative mental health and behavioral health outcomes. To better understand factors that contribute to these disparities, we conducted a scoping review of SGM mental health and substance use research in the Netherlands-a country with a long-standing reputation as a pioneer in SGM equality.

METHODS

Using Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines and the PRISMA-ScR protocol, we searched seven databases to identify studies published between 2010 and 2022 that focused on substance use and/or mental health of SGM youth and adults in the Netherlands.

RESULTS

Although there was some evidence that SGM people in the Netherlands report fewer substance use and mental health concerns than those in less progressive countries, with very few exceptions studies found poorer outcomes among SGM participants than cisgender, heterosexual participants. However, this observation must be considered cautiously given major gaps in the literature. For example, only one study focused exclusively on adult sexual minority women, two focused on older SGM adults, and very little attention was given to nonbinary individuals. Most studies used non-probability samples that were quite homogenous. Many studies, especially those with youth, assessed sexual orientation based on sexual attraction; some studies of adults operationalized SGM status as having a same-sex partner. Importantly, we found no studies that directly assessed associations between structural-level stigma and health outcomes. Studies were mostly focused at the individual level and on health problems; very little attention was given to strengths or resilience.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings of persistent health disparities-despite the relatively long history of SGM supportive policies in the Netherlands-highlight the need for more research and greater attention to population groups that have been underrepresented. Such research would not only provide guidance on strategies to improve the health of SGM people in the Netherlands, but also in other countries that are seeking to reduce health inequities. Addressing SGM health disparities in the Netherlands and elsewhere is complex and requires a multifaceted approach that addresses individual, interpersonal and structural factors.

Validation and measurement invariance of a Korean version of the Body Appreciation Scale-2 in cisgender sexual minorities and heterosexual adults

The Body Appreciation Scale-2 (BAS-2) has been validated in various languages across samples with different characteristics. However, its validation and invariance based on sexual orientation in Korean samples have yet to be examined. The current study validated the psychometric properties of the BAS-2 in Korean sexual minorities, and examined measurement invariance between sexual minority and heterosexual individuals and between sexual minority cisgender women and men. Responses from 449 sexual minority and 400 heterosexual individuals were analyzed. In the sexual minority sample, a confirmatory factor analysis supported the scale's unidimensional structure, exhibiting strong factorial validity; further, a correlation analysis revealed positive correlations with body satisfaction, positive sexual minority identity, life satisfaction, and self-esteem, supporting the convergent and criterion-related validity. A hierarchical regression analysis confirmed the incremental validity of the BAS-2 on life satisfaction and self-esteem. The BAS-2 was invariant across women and men at the scalar level in the sexual minority sample, and across sexual minorities and heterosexuals at the partial scalar level in the total sample. Latent mean comparisons indicated no significant differences in BAS-2 scores between sexual minority women and men, while sexual minorities scored significantly lower than heterosexuals. The multiple-indicators multiple-causes model provided evidence of differential item functioning.

"The thing I'm missing the most is just being around other queer people": critical analysis of the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health of two-spirit, gay, bisexual, and queer men's communities in Manitoba, Canada

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this community-based study was to create and advance knowledge on the social impacts of COVID-19 on mental health of Two-Spirit, gay, bisexual, and queer (2SGBQ+) cisgender and transgender men in Manitoba, Canada.

METHODS

Participants (n = 20) from 2SGBQ + men's communities were recruited across Manitoba using printed flyers and social media. Individual interviews explored questions relating to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health, social isolation, and service access. Data were critically examined using thematic analysis and the social theory of biopolitics.

RESULTS

Key themes focused on COVID-19 pandemic's negative impacts on 2SGBQ + men's mental health, loss of safe queer public spaces, and exacerbated inequities. During the COVID-19 pandemic in Manitoba, 2SGBQ + men experienced a profound loss of social connections, community spaces, and social networks which are specific to their socio-sexual identities, thereby intensifying pre-existing mental health disparities. These findings show how COVID-19 restrictions have come to reinforce the value of close personal communities, families of choice, and social networks among 2SGBQ + men in Manitoba, Canada.

CONCLUSIONS

This study supports the line of research on minority stress, biosociality, and place by highlighting some potential links between 2SGBQ + men's mental health and their social and physical environments. This research points to important role of safe community spaces, events, and community organizations that support 2SGBQ + men's mental health.