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Xu Y, Ma Y, Rahman Q. Comparing asexual with heterosexual, bisexual, and gay/lesbian individuals in common mental health problems: A multivariate meta-analysis. Clin Psychol Rev 2023; 105:102334. [PMID: 37690324 DOI: 10.1016/j.cpr.2023.102334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Revised: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/03/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
We aimed to test whether asexual individuals were at increased risk of higher levels of depressive symptoms, self-harm attempts, and suicide attempts compared with heterosexual, bisexual, or gay/lesbian individuals using multivariate meta-analysis. Seventeen, five, and eight samples were included for depressive symptoms, self-harm attempts, and suicide attempts, respectively, reaching a total sample size of 125,675, 30,116, and 73,366, respectively. Asexual individuals reported higher levels of depressive symptoms than heterosexual individuals (Hedges' g = -0.44, 95%CI = [-0.61, -0.26]) but did not differ from heterosexual individuals in the risk of self-harm (odds ratio = 1.11, 95%CI = [0.88, 1.39]) and suicide attempts (odds ratio = 0.76, 95%CI = [0.56, 1.04]). Asexual individuals were at lower risk of self-harm and suicide attempts than bisexual and gay/lesbian individuals but did not differ from bisexual and gay/lesbian individuals in the levels of depressive symptoms. The greatest risk of higher levels of depressive symptoms was found in bisexual and asexual, followed by gay/lesbian individuals; the greatest risk of self-harm and suicide attempts was found in bisexual, followed by gay/lesbian individuals, and the lowest risk was found in asexual individuals. The magnitude of the disparities in the risk of poorer mental health among heterosexual, bisexual, gay/lesbian, and asexual individuals depended on the type of mental health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yin Xu
- Department of Sociology & Psychology, School of Public Administration, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
| | - Yidan Ma
- Department of Psychology, Institute of Education Science, Leshan Normal University, Leshan, China; Key Laboratory of Personality and Cognition, Leshan Normal University, Leshan, China
| | - Qazi Rahman
- Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
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Wootton AR, Soled KRS, Puckett JA, Garrett-Walker JJ, Hill AP, Delucio K, Veldhuis CB. Community (dis)connectedness and identity among LGBTQIA+ people during the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative cross-sectional and longitudinal trajectory study. PSYCHOLOGY & SEXUALITY 2023; 15:170-192. [PMID: 38800743 PMCID: PMC11114605 DOI: 10.1080/19419899.2023.2241868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and associated shelter-in-place ordinances passed in the first year of the pandemic rapidly limited access to in-person social interactions, raising concerns of diminishing social support and community cohesion while psychological stressors increased. For LGBTQIA+ people, connectedness to the LGBTQIA+ community is known to buffer against the harmful effects of stressors and decrease risks for poor psychological and behavioral health outcomes. The current study uses qualitative cross-sectional and trajectory analysis methods to characterize how LGBTQIA+ people's perceptions of community connectedness shifted during the first year of the pandemic. A convenience sample of LGBTQIA+-identified people in the U.S. completed an initial online survey in September 2020 (n = 298 and a follow-up survey in September 2021 (n = 129). The survey included changes in connectedness to the LGBTQIA+ community since the pandemic's beginning. Thus, we used both cross-sectional (between-person analyses) and longitudinal trajectory (within-person analyses) qualitative approaches to understanding changes in LGBTQIA+ people's sense of connection to the LGBTQIA+ community across the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic. Eight cross-cutting themes (related to identity shifts/exploration, disconnection, online connections, and increased awareness of social justice issues) were identified and then organized within each level of the Social-Ecological Model of LGBTQIA+ wellbeing (i.e., the individual-, couple-, interpersonal-, organizational-, community-, and chronosystem- level). Given the importance of social support for LGBTQIA+ wellbeing, more longitudinal research is needed to determine whether these changes persist after the resolution of the acute phase of the pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angie R Wootton
- School of Social Welfare, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Kodiak R S Soled
- Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jae A Puckett
- Department of Psychology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - J J Garrett-Walker
- Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Aaron Perry Hill
- School of Social Welfare, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Kevin Delucio
- Fairhaven College of Interdisciplinary Studies, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA, USA
| | - Cindy B Veldhuis
- Department of Medical Social Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
- Institute for Sexual and Gender Minority Health and Wellbeing, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
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Chan RCH, Leung JSY. Monosexism as an Additional Dimension of Minority Stress Affecting Mental Health among Bisexual and Pansexual Individuals in Hong Kong: The Role of Gender and Sexual Identity Integration. JOURNAL OF SEX RESEARCH 2023; 60:704-717. [PMID: 36121683 DOI: 10.1080/00224499.2022.2119546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Monosexism has been increasingly recognized as a minority stressor uniquely experienced by plurisexual individuals. The present study investigated the effects of monosexist discrimination on mental health and examined the moderating role of gender and sexual identity integration (i.e., negation, authenticity, and disclosure). In a sample of 314 bisexual and pansexual individuals in Hong Kong (73.9% women and 26.1% men), the results showed that monosexist discrimination was associated with higher levels of depression and anxiety symptoms, above and beyond heterosexist discrimination. The association between monosexist discrimination and depression symptoms was stronger among bisexual and pansexual men than women, despite there being no gender differences in vulnerability to monosexist discrimination. Moreover, sexual identity negation, authenticity, and disclosure moderated the associations of monosexist discrimination with depression and anxiety symptoms, such that the associations were not significant among those with more positive integration of sexual identity (i.e., lower levels of sexual identity negation as well as higher levels of sexual identity authenticity and disclosure). This study provides insight into the deleterious impact of monosexism and the protective role of sexual identity integration. Implications for plurisexual-affirming psychological intervention, public policy, and community practice are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Randolph C H Chan
- Department of Special Education and Counselling, The Education University of Hong Kong
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Rosario M, Espinosa A, Kittle K, Russell ST. Childhood Experiences and Mental Health of Sexual Minority Adults: Examining Three Models. JOURNAL OF SEX RESEARCH 2022; 59:834-847. [PMID: 35191800 PMCID: PMC9393203 DOI: 10.1080/00224499.2022.2034137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Three models of recalled childhood gender nonconformity (GNC) and maltreatment are proposed to explain disparities in current psychological distress and lifetime suicidality among sexual minority individuals, using a United States probability sample of cisgender lesbian/gay (n = 701), bisexual (n = 606), and other (e.g., queer, n = 182) adults. Indirect effects indicated that lesbian/gay individuals were more likely than bisexual individuals to experience maltreatment and suicidal ideation as childhood GNC increased. Other indirect effects found that bisexual individuals reported more psychological distress and greater likelihood of lifetime suicidal ideation and attempts than lesbian/gay individuals as maltreatment increased. The direct effects of sexual orientation were stronger than the indirect effects via maltreatment or GNC, with bisexual individuals reporting more maltreatment, distress, and suicidality than lesbian/gay individuals. Significant findings for individuals with other identities were similar to those of bisexual individuals. Adjusted findings were comparable for women and men. The findings indicated that sexual minority individuals reported experiences consistent with sexual minority stress during early developmental periods, before being aware of their sexual orientation. It is necessary to understand the early lived experiences of sexual minority individuals, differences between lesbian/gay and bisexual individuals in those experiences, and their implications for adaptation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaret Rosario
- Department of Psychology, The City University of New York—The City College and Graduate Center, 160 Convent Avenue, New York, NY 10031, United States
| | - Adriana Espinosa
- Department of Psychology, The City College of New York, 160 Convent Avenue, New York, NY 10031, United States
| | - Krystal Kittle
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Social & Behavioral Health Program, School of Public Health, The University of Nevada, Las Vegas. 4700 S. Maryland Pkwy, Las Vegas, NV 89119, United States
| | - Stephen T. Russell
- Department of Human Development and Family Sciences and the Population Research Center, University of Texas at Austin, 108 E Dean Keeton St, Austin, TX 78712, United States
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Siegel M, Randall AK, Lannutti PJ, Fischer MS, Gandhi Y, Lukas R, Meuwly N, Rosta-Filep O, van Stein K, Ditzen B, Martos T, Schneckenreiter C, Totenhagen CJ, Zemp M. Intimate Pride: a Tri-Nation Study on Associations between Positive Minority Identity Aspects and Relationship Quality in Sexual Minorities from German-Speaking Countries. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF APPLIED POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY 2022; 8:1-29. [PMID: 35936990 PMCID: PMC9344453 DOI: 10.1007/s41042-022-00070-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Investigations into the intimate relationships of sexual minorities are proliferating, but often adopt a deficit-oriented and US-centered perspective. In this tri-nation online study with sexual minority participants from Austria, Germany, and Switzerland (N = 571), we (i) assessed the construct validity of the German version of a well-known measure for positive minority identity aspects (the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Positive Identity Measure; LGB-PIM), and (ii) explored associations between these aspects (self-awareness, authenticity, community, capacity for intimacy, and social justice) and self-reported relationship quality. Model fit of the German version of the LGB-PIM was deemed acceptable. Higher levels of positive minority identity aspects showed small to moderate associations with higher levels of relationship quality in bivariate analyses, but only capacity for intimacy was linked to relationship quality in higher-order models (controlling for country, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, relationship length, and psychological distress). Results remained robust in several sensitivity analyses. Our results highlight the differential role of positive identity aspects for relationship functioning, with capacity for intimacy as a fruitful leverage point for therapeutic work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Siegel
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Public Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerpen, Belgium
| | - Ashley K. Randall
- Counseling and Counseling Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, USA
| | | | - Melanie S. Fischer
- Institute of Medical Psychology, Heidelberg University Hospital & Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Yuvamathi Gandhi
- Counseling and Counseling Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, USA
| | - Raphaela Lukas
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Nathalie Meuwly
- Department of Psychology, Institute for Family Research and Counseling, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | | | - Katharina van Stein
- Institute of Medical Psychology, Heidelberg University Hospital & Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Beate Ditzen
- Institute of Medical Psychology, Heidelberg University Hospital & Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Tamás Martos
- Department of Personality, Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | | | - Casey J. Totenhagen
- Human Development and Family Studies, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, USA AL
| | - Martina Zemp
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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Long JE, Montaño M, Sanchez H, Huerta L, Calderón Garcia D, Lama JR, Andrasik M, Duerr A. Self-Identity, Beliefs, and Behavior Among Men Who Have Sex with Transgender Women: Implications for HIV Research and Interventions. ARCHIVES OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR 2021; 50:3287-3295. [PMID: 34617189 PMCID: PMC8784120 DOI: 10.1007/s10508-021-02019-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2020] [Revised: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/16/2021] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
While transgender women have been identified as a global priority population for HIV prevention and treatment, little is known about the cisgender male partners of transgender women, including their sexual behavior and HIV prevalence. Previous research has suggested that these male partners have varied identities and sexual behavior, which make identifying and engaging them in research difficult. This paper describes interviews conducted with fifteen cisgender men who reported recent sexual activity with transgender women in Lima, Peru. The purpose of this research was to explore how these men reported their identities and sexual behavior, to better understand how they would interact with HIV outreach, research, and care. The major themes were sexual orientation and identity; view of transgender partners; social ties to transgender women and other men with transgender women partners; disclosure of relationships; HIV knowledge and risk perception; and attitudes toward interventions. We found that language used to assess sexual orientation was problematic in this population, due to lack of consistency between orientation and reported behavior, and unfamiliarity with terms used to describe sexual orientation. In addition, stigma, lack of knowledge of HIV prevention methods, and fear of disclosure of sexual behavior were identified as barriers that could impact engagement in HIV research, prevention, and care. However, participants reported social relationships with both transgender women and other men who have transgender partners, presenting possible avenues for recruitment into HIV research and healthcare services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica E Long
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Box 351619, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA.
| | - Michalina Montaño
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Box 351619, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | | | | | | | - Javier R Lama
- Asociación Civil Impacta Salud y Educación, Lima, Peru
| | | | - Ann Duerr
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
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