A National Survey on Depression, Internalized Homophobia, College Religiosity, and Climate of Acceptance on College Campuses for Sexual Minority Adults

Do Y'all Say Gay or Trans?: The Impact of Gender and Sexuality on College Students' Experiences in the Rural South

While national trends indicate improvement in campus climates for LGBTQ+ students, these patterns may not exist on campuses in the Southeast region of the United States, particularly given conservative backlash in the region. Drawing from focus group and survey data, we investigated how students in a rural Southern location perceive campus and community space with regard to safety and support, and how the intersections of gender and sexual orientation affect those perceptions. We found LGBTQ+ students had a mostly positive perception of their campus experience, despite reports of harassment, perceptions of unsafe spaces, and some lack of awareness of resources. However, students rate the climate for queer-spectrum students more positively than that for trans-spectrum students. Cis-gender, heterosexual students were largely accepting of their LGBTQ+ peers and were mostly unaware of LGBTQ+ harassment in spaces on campus. Students' positive assessments exist despite a lack of systematic, institutional-level programming to integrate them into the campus community but are influenced by the work of faculty and staff allies through classes, curriculum, and programs. Our analyses inform recommendations for policies and initiatives and illuminate unique challenges facing queer students on campuses in conservative, rural areas.

"I Just Want to be Acknowledged": Suicidal Ideation Experiences among Sexual Minority Students at a Religiously Affiliated University

Research finds that sexual minority university students experience considerable psychological and emotional distress. Furthermore, a recent study at Brigham Young University (BYU)-a university affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints-found that suicidality prevalence and severity were twice as high among sexual minority students compared to their heterosexual peers. To better understand this finding, we interviewed ten sexual minority students at BYU who reported clinically significant current or previous suicidality. A coding team and auditors then analyzed and categorized the transcripts of these interviews using the Consensual Qualitative Research methodology. Five domains emerged related to suicidality among sexual minority students: deterrents from suicidal ideation and intent; contributors to suicidal ideation and intent; religious and spiritual experiences; experiences with BYU; and suggested improvements. We found patterns consistent with previous literature, including relational and belonging factors contributing to suicidality; we also found that certain doctrinal interpretations were related to increased suicidality. The primary improvement requested by participants was feeling better understood and accepted (rather than ignored or marginalized). We discuss study limitations (including small sample size and low generalizability,), future directions for research, and implications for religious university campuses.

Occurrence, Frequency, and Correlates of Faking Orgasm and Satisfaction in Sexual Minority Men

Existing literature on "faking" orgasm focuses almost exclusively on women. Limited research exists among men, and none focuses on sexual minority (e.g., gay, bisexual, queer) men. Additionally, faking satisfaction (pretending to be sexually satisfied) remains an unknown concept. This study examined the occurrence, frequency, and correlates of faking orgasm and satisfaction in sexual minority men. Participants (N = 211, age = 18-53, 59% identified as gay) responded to an online survey assessing frequencies of faking orgasm and satisfaction as well as potential correlates of faking (age, relationship status, sexual frequency, orgasm frequency, internalized sexual stigma). Results showed that faking orgasm and faking satisfaction were highly prevalent among sexual minority men in this sample (83% had faked orgasm and 88% had faked satisfaction in the past two years). The frequency of faking was also high; 62% and 68% faked orgasm and satisfaction at least "sometimes." Higher internalized sexual stigma and lower orgasm frequency were associated with higher frequencies of faking orgasm and satisfaction. For faking orgasm, however, the relationship between internalized sexual stigma and faking only existed in gay men. The findings suggest that faking pleasure in sexual minority men is common and deserves more empirical attention.

Queer in the Latter Days: An Integrated Model of Sexual and Religious Identity Development Among Former Mormon Sexual Minority Adults

Sexual minority individuals often have complicated relationships with conservative religion, including conflicts between their sexual and religious identities. Sexual minority members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (CJCLDS) experience unique struggles, given the policies and doctrine of the CJCLDS and its commitment to heteronormative family structures and gender roles. A better understanding of the identity development trajectory for sexual minority individuals formerly involved in the church can deepens our understanding of sexual identity development in constrained contexts and help promote successful identity integration within this subpopulation. Transcripts from semi-structured interviews with thirty-four sexual minority individuals who identified as former members of the CJCLDS were analyzed using an inductive thematic approach, followed by a deductive theory-building process in which Cass's Homosexual Identity Formation Model and Genia's Religious Identity Development Model were overlaid on themes. We present a model that captures the trajectory of sexual and religious identity development that captures the experiences of sexual minority adults within the constraints of the CJCLDS, a non-affirming religious denomination.

Which types of social support matter for Black sexual minority men coping with internalized homophobia? Findings from a mediation analysis

Background

Minority stress theory views social support as a protective factor against the effects of minority-specific stressors like internalized homophobia (IH) on mental health in sexual minority populations. However, much of the empirical validation of this theory has been conducted within predominantly White samples, resulting in a limited understanding of how the theory applies to Black sexual minority individuals. Current examinations of social support fail to capture the nuances of how Black sexual minority men may access support systems differently, resulting in a need to investigate how social support, IH, and mental health operate for Black sexual minority men. This study examined relationships between IH, depression, and different types of social support (i.e., family, friends, Black community, gay community) using a mediation model.

Methods

We used data from the POWER (Promoting Our Worth Equity and Resilience) Study, which recruited Black sexual minority men at Black Pride events across six cities in the United States from 2014 to 2017, to test four mediation pathways concurrently in Stata 17. Participants (N = 4,430) completed a questionnaire assessing a variety of health and life domains, including depression symptoms, internalized homophobia, and social support.

Results

IH was positively associated with depression. Lower levels of family, friend, and Black community support were all positively associated with depression symptoms. Additionally, IH was positively associated with all types of support. Finally, family, friend, and Black community support partially mediated the relationship between IH and depression.

Conclusions and implications

Results suggest that the relationship between social support and depression is complex for Black sexual minority men. Findings suggest family support is an important factor for clinical intervention efforts targeting depression, and that gay community support systems should assess how their environments can better support Black sexual minority men. Overall, findings demonstrate the necessity of future examination of how social support functions differently within Black sexual minority communities.

Religion/Spirituality, Stress, and Resilience Among Sexual and Gender Minorities: The Religious/Spiritual Stress and Resilience Model

Although many sexual and gender minorities (SGMs) consider themselves religious or spiritual, the impact of this religiousness or spirituality (RS) on their health is poorly understood. We introduce the religious/spiritual stress and resilience model (RSSR) to provide a robust framework for understanding the variegated ways that RS influences the health of SGMs. The RSSR bridges existing theorizing on minority stress, structural stigma, and RS-health pathways to articulate the circumstances under which SGMs likely experience RS as health promoting or health damaging. The RSSR makes five key propositions: (a) Minority stress and resilience processes influence health; (b) RS influences general resilience processes; (c) RS influences minority-specific stress and resilience processes; (d) these relationships are moderated by a number of variables uniquely relevant to RS among SGMs, such as congregational stances on same-sex sexual behavior and gender expression or an individual's degree of SGM and RS identity integration; and (e) relationships between minority stress and resilience, RS, and health are bidirectional. In this manuscript, we describe the empirical basis for each of the five propositions focusing on research examining the relationship between RS and health among SGMs. We conclude by describing how the RSSR may inform future research on RS and health among SGMs.

Contextual Influence of School-Level Gender Role Attitudes and Sexual Prejudice on Allyship, Bullying, and Internalized Homonegativity

Previous studies have primarily used an individual differences approach to identify dispositional factors associated with bullying behavior, which often neglect the broader school context in which bullying occurs. The present study used a multilevel research design to examine the contextual influence of school normative climate on allyship, bullying, and internalized homonegativity. The study included 3020 students (M = 15.83 years, SD = 1.50) from ten secondary schools in China. The results showed that school-level gender role attitudes were positively associated with bullying perpetration among heterosexual students as well as bullying victimization and internalized homonegativity among LGBQA+ students. In addition, there was a negative association between school-level sexual prejudice and allyship among heterosexual students. The findings demonstrate the contextual influence of school normative climate and highlight the need for regular school climate assessments, so that appropriate instructions, policies, and practices can be implemented to address gender biases and homophobia and the resulting bullying behavior.

Unpacking the Internalized Homonegativity-Health Relationship: How the Measurement of Internalized Homonegativity and Health Matter and the Contribution of Religiousness

Internalized homonegativity (IH) is widely recognized to negatively influence the health of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and queer/questioning (LGBQ +) individuals. It is not clear, however, the role that religiousness may play in the relationship between IH and health or how differing conceptualizations of IH or health may influence this relationship. We conducted a multi-level meta-analysis of 151 effect sizes from 68 studies to examine the relationship between IH and health as well as what may moderate this relationship. Results suggested that IH was consistently and negatively related to health (r = - .28). Analyses suggest that IH was most strongly related to mental health and well-being, evidencing a relatively weaker (though still negative) relationship with physical or sexual health. Analyses of different ways to measure IH suggest that scales that conceptualize IH to include distress (e.g., the Internalized Homonegativity Inventory) report stronger relationships with health than scales that conceptualize IH orthogonally from distress (e.g., the Internalized Homonegativity scale of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Identity Salience Scale [LGBIS]). We failed to find significant moderation effects for religiousness, though it was hard to evaluate this relationship due to the poor quality of most measures of religiousness. We encourage researchers to use measures of IH that conceptualize IH orthogonally from distress (e.g., the LGBIS) and to use more nuanced measures of religiousness (e.g., religious belief, religious activity). We also encourage researchers to focus on how IH impacts less-often studied measures of health (e.g., physical health, suicidality).

An Experiment Using a Sexual Strategies Explanation to Alleviate Internalized Homophobia Among Men Who Have Sex With Men in China

Some men who have sex with men (MSM) having more casual sex and sexual partners is interpreted to be a sign of mental disorder and used to justify negative attitudes toward them by some. MSM may internalize this attitude causing internalized homophobia (IH). According to the sexual strategies theory, MSM having more casual sex is the result of differences between men's and women's sexual strategies and is unrelated to sexual orientation. We investigated whether this explanation would reduce IH and improve mental health in MSM. We recruited 255 Chinese MSM online using Wenjuanxing, Douban, Weibo, Tieba, and Blued and divided them using simple randomization into an experimental group (n = 77; sexual strategies explanation provided), an active control group (n = 99; minority stress explanation provided), and a control group (n = 79; no intervention) with pretest (N = 255); a 1 week post-test (n = 195); and a 1 month follow-up test (n = 170) of outcome measures. IH, mental distress (MD), sort-term mating orientation, and risky sexual behaviors were measured online. The data were analyzed by SPSS 28. IH was associated with MD while being married was associated with IH and sexual contact with women with both more IH and MD as were not being masculine and self-identifying as straight. The sexual strategies explanation reduced IH related to pathologizing sexual behaviors and high-risk sexual behaviors while the minority stress explanation reduced MD. Providing a sexual strategies explanation may be used to de-stigmatize casual sex among MSM.

What do women with sexual interest in children tell us about the assumed cause of their sexual interest in children, (non-)disclosure, and professional help?-Results of a qualitative content analysis

Research on women with sexual interest in children is still rare, especially regarding women's own theories about the cause of their sexual interest in children, their experiences with (non-)disclosure, and professional help. In the context of a broader online study, we provided 50 women with a sexual interest in children under the age of 14 years (mean age: 33.6, SD = 11.1) with open questions regarding their own theories about what causes their sexual interest in children, experiences with disclosure and non-disclosure, and experiences with and opinions about professional help. Analyses were conducted using an inductive qualitative content analysis method that aimed at ordering and structuring manifest and latent content by categorizing qualitative data. Results revealed that participants mainly think that past experiences caused their sexual interest in children (Σ = 16), e.g., abusive or non-abusive sexual experiences during childhood. Some participants think that their sexual interest in children is a disposition they were born with (Σ = 8). Disclose of sexual interest in children to another person was reported by 56.0% of the present sample and led to rather positive consequences (Σ = 24, e.g., acceptance or support). Those who did not disclose (44.0%) mainly did so due to fear of rejection and/or stigmatization (Σ = 24). A total of 30.0% already sought help due to their sexual interest in children and frequently reported negative experiences (Σ = 15). A frequent statement participants made on how to reach women with sexual interest in children in order to offer professional help was the destigmatization of sexual interest in children (Σ = 14). We recommend that women with sexual interest in children should be taken more seriously among research and in prevention measures.

Latent syndemic profiles among sexual and gender minority college students and psychological distress amid the COVID-19 pandemic

Sexual and gender minority (SGM) college students experience compounding psychological effects as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Using latent profile analysis of cross-sectional data from a sample of SGM students (n=565) we tested for a syndemic of victimization, internalized LGBTQ+ stigma, racism, racialized heterosexism/cisgenderism, family rejection, and isolation associated with psychological distress. We also tested if increases in these factors since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic were associated with greater psychological distress among syndemic profiles. We identified four profiles: "Lowest syndemic factors" (reference), "High isolation only," "High isolation and rejection only," and "High syndemic." The greatest distress was observed among the "High syndemic" profile (aPR=2.99, 95% CI 2.20, 4.06), followed by the "High isolation and rejection only" profile (aPR=2.11, 95% CI 1.61, 2.76), and the "High isolation only" profile (aPR=1.32, 95% CI 1.03, 1.70). Among the "High syndemic profile," increases in every factor since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic were associated with greater psychological distress. The strongest associations were seen among increased victimization (aPR=5.85, 95% CI 1.33, 25.71). Victimization, internalized LGBTQ+ stigma, racism, family rejection, and isolation form a syndemic among SGM students, which has magnified since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Comprehensive Sexuality Education Improves Primary Students' Explicit and Implicit Attitudes Toward Homosexuality

Comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) is a curriculum-based process that is inclusive to gender and sexual orientation. We used the attitude toward homosexuality scale and the single category implicit association test (SC-IAT) to measure differences between explicit and implicit attitudes toward homosexuality between migrant children with 6 years CSE learning experience (experimental group, N = 70) and those without (control group, N = 80). We found that the experimental group had more positive explicit and implicit attitudes toward homosexuality than the control group. In conclusion, CSE is a useful process for improving the explicit and implicit attitudes of migrant children toward homosexuality.

"We Do Exist": The Experiences of Women Living with a Sexual Interest in Minors

The current body of the literature studying minor-attracted persons (MAPs) predominantly focuses on the experiences of men who experience sexual attractions to children. To shed more light on the experiences of women within this population, we conducted anonymous semi-structured interviews with six self-identified female MAPs, who were recruited through online support forums for individuals with sexual attractions to children. Interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) was used to analyze the interview transcripts. Two superordinate themes were identified from the dataset that highlighted the uniqueness of the experience of being a woman within the MAP community ("A minority within a minority") and themes of social isolation and the effects of this on identity ("A lonely secret existence"). The findings reported here highlight how the experiences of female MAPs both converge with and diverge from their male counterparts in important ways. We discuss the implications of these experiences in relation to more effective service provision for women who are sexually attracted to children.

Comparing the Partnering, Minority Stress, and Depression for Bisexual, Lesbian, and Gay Adults from Religious Upbringings

Minority stress impacts the mental health of bi+ individuals (e.g., bisexual, pansexual, queer), similar to gay and lesbian individuals. Bi+ individuals may have difficulty accessing social supports for mitigating minority stress. A religious upbringing may complicate this process. This study sought to compare a survey sample of bi+ individuals (n = 153) and their gay/lesbian (n = 231) peers from religious families on minority stress factors, depression, and partnering. Results highlighted differences between gay/lesbian and bi+ individuals in partnering and LGB community connection with bi+ group reporting more minority stressors. Bi+ individuals in same-gender partnerships reported lower parent rejection and being more out than those who were single or in different-gender partnerships. Family religiosity was associated with family rejection; however, it did not directly predict minority stress factors or depression for bi+ individuals. Implications for future research are discussed in light of the distinctions emerging between gay/lesbian and bi+ adults.

EEG based Major Depressive disorder and Bipolar disorder detection using Neural Networks:A review

Mental disorders represent critical public health challenges as they are leading contributors to the global burden of disease and intensely influence social and financial welfare of individuals. The present comprehensive review concentrate on the two mental disorders: Major depressive Disorder (MDD) and Bipolar Disorder (BD) with noteworthy publications during the last ten years. There is a big need nowadays for phenotypic characterization of psychiatric disorders with biomarkers. Electroencephalography (EEG) signals could offer a rich signature for MDD and BD and then they could improve understanding of pathophysiological mechanisms underling these mental disorders. In this review, we focus on the literature works adopting neural networks fed by EEG signals. Among those studies using EEG and neural networks, we have discussed a variety of EEG based protocols, biomarkers and public datasets for depression and bipolar disorder detection. We conclude with a discussion and valuable recommendations that will help to improve the reliability of developed models and for more accurate and more deterministic computational intelligence based systems in psychiatry. This review will prove to be a structured and valuable initial point for the researchers working on depression and bipolar disorders recognition by using EEG signals.

Two sources of autonomy support and depressive symptoms among Chinese gay men: The sequential mediating effect of internalized homonegativity and rumination

BACKGROUND

A high level of depressive symptoms is a universal phenomenon among gay groups. Autonomy support, which refers to supporting an opportunity for others to authentically express themselves and behave consistently with their own beliefs, values and interests, is considered a critical protective factor facilitating the relief of depressive symptoms in gay men. The aim of the current study was to examine the relationships between two sources of autonomy support (from parents and friends) and depressive symptoms in a Chinese context and evaluate the mediating effects of internalized homonegativity and rumination.

METHODS

Altogether, 385 Chinese gay men (mean age = 24.00 years old, standard deviation (SD) = 4.84) who were voluntarily recruited by web-sampling were measured on scales regarding autonomy support, internalized homonegativity, rumination and depressive symptoms.

RESULTS

Autonomy support from both parents and friends were negatively correlated with depressive symptoms among Chinese gay men. Internalized homonegativity and rumination played a sequential mediating role between friends' autonomy support and depressive symptoms, yet this sequential mediation effect was not significant between parental autonomy support and depressive symptoms.

LIMITATIONS

The cross-sectional design limited casual inferences between variables. The effects of domain-specific autonomy support were not involved in this study, and other mediators between autonomy support and depressive symptoms and more sociodemographic variables should be considered.

CONCLUSION

Autonomy support from both parents and friends might be protective factors against depressive symptoms in Chinese gay men. Friends' autonomy support was related to decreased depressive symptoms via lower internalized homonegativity and rumination, while parental autonomy support was related to less depressive symptoms through other possible mechanisms.

Sexual prejudice, sexism, and religion

Multi-national and meta-analytic studies suggest that the pathways between religiousness and sexism/sexual prejudice are partially mediated by sociopersonality factors such as conservatism. In this article, we describe the contributing factors to this relationship, such as authoritarianism and fundamentalism. These factors interact at the dynamic nexus of individual and social development. As such, religiously situated sexism and sexual prejudice are not viewed as inevitable outcomes to religious practice and faith. Individual differences (e.g. conservatism), congregational (e.g. doctrine/policies, limited contact), and cultural factors (e.g. power hierarchies) mutually contribute to this landscape, and individuals ultimately make choices regarding their behavior and views. Further research exploring the mechanisms of religiously situated gender inequality and sexual prejudice is essential given the associated negative outcomes for individuals, relationships, and communities. Our growing grasp of the agentive pathways leading to religiously situated prejudice and discrimination is enriching our understanding of how individual differences and social contexts contribute to sexism and sexual prejudice.