Correlates of Homophobic Attitudes in Lebanon: Results of a Cross-Sectional Study

Internalized Sexual Orientation Stigma and Mental Health in a Religiously Diverse Sample of Gay and Bisexual Men in Lebanon

This study explores the correlates of internalized sexual orientation stigma, psychological distress and depression in a religiously diverse sample of gay and bisexual men in Lebanon. A convenience sample of 200 participants completed a cross-sectional survey. Bisexual men reported greater internalized sexual orientation stigma and less outness to their family and were more likely to face family pressure to have a heterosexual marriage than gay men. People of no religion reported more outness than Muslims and Christians but also higher psychological distress and depression. Multiple regression analyses showed that religiosity, outness, family pressure to marry and being bisexual were positively associated with internalized sexual orientation stigma; and that frequency of attending one's place of worship was negatively associated with psychological distress and depression. Individuals may be coping with adversity through engagement with institutionalized religion, which also appears to be a source of negative social representations concerning their sexuality.

Xenophobic attitudes, behaviors and coping strategies among Lebanese people toward immigrants and refugees

PURPOSE

To assess the relationship between xenophobia and the coping strategies and evaluate factors associated with xenophobia in Lebanon.

DESIGN/METHODS

This cross-sectional study, conducted between March and July 2017, enrolled 433 participants.

RESULTS

Severe xenophobia (β = 1.46) and female sex (β = 1.45) were associated with higher problem-focused engagement scores. Participants with a low income had lower problem-focused disengagement score compared to those without income. Moderate (β = 0.80) and intense xenophobia (β = 1.38) were significantly associated with higher emotion-focused engagement, whereas female sex was significantly associated with lower emotion-focused engagement (β = -0.71) and disengagement (β = -0.83). Being divorced compared to single (β = 2.32) and female sex (β = 2.04) were associated with higher xenophobia.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Our study supports the prevalence of xenophobia amongst Lebanese but requires a broader assessment of that trend.