The Interrelations Between Internalized Homophobia, Depressive Symptoms, and Suicidal Ideation among Australian Gay Men, Lesbians, and Bisexual Women

Internalized homophobia has been linked to depression among gay men, lesbians, and bisexuals. Relatively little research has investigated the link between internalized homophobia and suicidal thoughts and behaviors. 

The current research investigated the interrelations among internalized homophobia, depressive symptoms, and suicidal ideation by testing additive, mediation, and moderation models. Self-identified Australian gay men (n = 360), lesbians (n = 444), and bisexual women (n = 114) completed the Internalized Homophobia Scale, the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale, and the suicide subscale of the General Health Questionnaire. 

Results supported the additive and partial mediation models for gay men and the mediation and moderation models for lesbians. 

None of the models were supported for bisexual women. 

The findings imply that clinicians should focus on reducing internalized homophobia and depressive symptoms among gay men and lesbians, and depressive symptoms among bisexual women, to reduce suicidal ideation.

Below:  The interaction effect of internalized homophobia × depressive symptoms on suicidal ideation among lesbians

Full article at:   http://goo.gl/xj9tC6

By:  McLaren S1.

• 1 School of Health Sciences and Psychology (http://goo.gl/p1o546), Federation University Australia , Ballarat , Australia. 

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Social Support Networks among Diverse Sexual Minority Populations

This article reports a study of the function and composition of social support networks among diverse lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) men and women (n = 396) in comparison to their heterosexual peers (n = 128). 

Data were collected using a structured social support network matrix in a community sample recruited in New York City. Our findings show that gay and bisexual men may rely on "chosen families" more than lesbian and bisexual women. 

Both heterosexuals and LGBs relied less on family and more on other people (e.g., friends, coworkers) for everyday social support (e.g., recreational and social activities, talking about problems). Providers of everyday social support were most often of the same sexual orientation and race/ethnicity as participants. 

In seeking major support (e.g., borrowing large sums of money), heterosexual men and women along with lesbian and bisexual women relied primarily on their families, but gay and bisexual men relied primarily on other LGB individuals. 

Racial/ethnic minority LGBs relied on LGB similar others at the same rate as did White LGBs but, notably, racial/ethnic minority LGBs reported receiving fewer dimensions of support.

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By:  Frost DM1, Meyer IH2, Schwartz S1.

• 1Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University.
• 2Williams Institute, University of California, Los Angeles. 

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Enacted Sexual Stigma, Stigma Consciousness, and Subjective Happiness Scale Adaptation: A Two-Country Study

Violence against people due to their sexual orientation is a phenomenon that exists within a framework of sexual stigma and sexual prejudice that can result in enacted stigma. 

The present study primarily aimed to validate the Stigma Consciousness Questionnaire (SCQ) and the Subjective Happiness Scale (SHS; for lesbian, gay, and bisexual [LGB] populations) in the Spanish context by using samples from two countries (Spain [N = 157] and the United States [N = 83]). 

Also, to examine how the construct of stigma consciousness correlates with anti-LGBQ (anti-lesbian, gay, bisexual, and queer) hate crime victimization and violent incidents, as well as examine whether the former influences subjective happiness. 

The population from the United States reported higher stigma consciousness and received more anti-LGBQ threats and insults. Hate crime victimization was the same across the two samples and positively correlated with violent incidents in both samples. 

Subjective happiness was negatively correlated with SCQ, although its subscales it did not correlate with enacted stigma measures.

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By:  Strizzi J1, Fernández-Agis I2, Parrón-Carreño T2, Alarcón-Rodríguez R2.

• 1University of Almeria, Spain jenna.strizzi@gmail.com.
• 2University of Almeria, Spain.
• J Interpers Violence. 2016 Jan;31(2):316-38. doi: 10.1177/0886260514555372. Epub 2014 Nov 6. 

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When Parents Separate and One Parent 'Comes Out' as Lesbian, Gay or Bisexual: Sons and Daughters Engage with the Tension that Occurs When Their Family Unit Changes

The experiences of Irish sons and daughters born into heterosexually-organised parental partnerships/unions whose parents have separated and one has come out as Lesbian, Gay or Bisexual (LGB) were explored through a grounded theory approach. 

Fifteen adult children (over the age of 18 years), who varied in age when their parents separated and one disclosed as LGB, were interviewed. The primary concern that emerged centred on participants having to adjust to their parents' being separated, as opposed to their parent being LGB. This involved engaging with the tension that arose from the loss of the parental union, which involved changes to the home environment and adapting to new parental partners and family units. 

Heightened reflection on sexual orientation and an increased sensitivity to societal LGB prejudice were specifically associated with a parent coming out as LGB. How parents negotiated disclosing the changes to others, the level of support available to parents, and how capable parents were at maintaining the parent-child relationship had an impact on the tension experienced by sons and daughters. Participants moved from initially avoiding and resisting the family changes that were occurring to gradual consonance with their altered family environments. 

Concluding directions for research and clinical considerations are suggested.

Below:  Sons and daughters engaging with tension that arises (when parents separate and one comes out as LGB): A transition from avoidance to consonance

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By:   Daly SC1, MacNeela P1, Sarma KM1.

• 1School of Psychology, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland. 
• PLoS One. 2015 Dec 28;10(12):e0145491. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0145491. eCollection 2015. 

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To Refer or Not to Refer: Exploring Family Therapists' Beliefs and Practices Related to the Referral of Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Clients

This study explored how negative beliefs toward lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals and LGB clinical competence influenced family therapists' beliefs and practices regarding referring based on the sexual orientation of the client. The sample consisted of 741 experienced clinicians. 

The results of this study indicated that the majority of the participants believe it is ethical to refer LGB clients; however, most had never made such a referral. Furthermore, participants who had referred based solely on the client's sexual orientation reported higher levels of negative beliefs toward LGB individuals and lower levels of LGB clinical competence. Finally, negative beliefs toward LGB persons not only predicted the practice of referring, but also the belief that it is ethical to refer an LGB client.

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By:   McGeorge CR1, Stone Carlson T1, Farrell M1.

• 1North Dakota State University. 
• Res Gerontol Nurs. 2015 Dec 28:1-13. doi: 10.3928/19404921-20151218-02.

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Adverse Childhood Experiences Related to Poor Adult Health among Lesbian, Gay, & Bisexual Individuals

OBJECTIVES:

We explored the association of sexual orientation with poor adult health outcomes before and after adjustment for exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs).

METHODS:

Data were from the 2012 North Carolina, 2011 Washington, and 2011 and 2012 Wisconsin Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) surveys regarding health risks, perceived poor health, and chronic conditions by sexual orientation and 8 categories of ACEs. There were 711 lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) respondents and 29 690 heterosexual respondents.

RESULTS:

LGB individuals had a higher prevalence of all ACEs than heterosexuals, with odds ratios ranging from 1.4 to 3.1. After adjustment for cumulative exposure to ACEs, sexual orientation was no longer associated with poor physical health, current smoking, and binge drinking. Associations with poor mental health, activity limitation, HIV risk behaviors, current asthma, depression, and disability remained, but were attenuated.

CONCLUSIONS:

The higher prevalence of ACEs among LGB individuals may account for some of their excess risk for poor adult health outcomes. 

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By:   Austin A1, Herrick H1, Proescholdbell S1.

• 1At the time of the study, Anna Austin and Scott Proescholdbell were with the Injury Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit, Injury and Violence Prevention Branch, Chronic Disease and Injury Section, Division of Public Health, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Raleigh. Harry Herrick was with the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, State Center for Health Statistics, Division of Public Health, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Raleigh. 

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Life Satisfaction, Self-Esteem, and Loneliness among LGB Adults and Heterosexual Adults in China

Low levels of life satisfaction have been linked to low self-esteem and loneliness, but this association has never been tested directly in LGB (lesbian/gay/bisexual) populations. We compared 275 Chinese LGB adults to 275 demographic-matched Chinese heterosexual controls on life satisfaction, self-esteem, and loneliness. 

LGB adults reported lower levels of self-esteem and higher levels of loneliness than heterosexuals, but similar levels of overall life satisfaction. Self-esteem partially mediated (but did not moderate) the relationship between loneliness and life satisfaction in both groups. Hierarchical regressions indicated that demographic variables, loneliness, and self-esteem can predict life satisfaction in both LGB and heterosexual adults, but explained more variance of life satisfaction in the LGB group. 

Thus self-esteem and loneliness play a more important role in life satisfaction for LGB rather than heterosexual Chinese adults.

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By:   Jingchu Hu  MA^a, Jize Hu  MA^b, Gang Huang  BA^b & Xifu Zheng  PhD^a*

• ^a School of Psychology and Center for Studies of Psychological Application, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
• ^b Psychology Department, Normal College, University of Shenzhen, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China

 

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Resilience among Gay/Bisexual Young Men in Western Kenya: Psychosocial & Sexual Health Outcomes

To explore associations between intrapersonal and interpersonal factors and both sexual and psychosocial resilient outcomes among young gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) in Western Kenya.

Five hundred and eleven GBMSM ages 18-29 were recruited from nine communities in Western Kenya using community-based mobilization strategies. Participants completed an audio computer-assisted self-interview survey in English or Duhluo. We estimated four three-step hierarchical linear regression models to examine associations between predictors (intrapersonal and interpersonal factors) and four resilient outcomes (psychological well-being, self-esteem, condom use, HIV testing).

Psychosocial well-being model (modeled conversely as depression/anxiety) was significant (F(13,424) = 106.41, P < 0.001, R = 0.765) with loneliness, lesbian/gay/bisexual (LGB) difficult process, LGB identity superiority, and reactions to trauma as predictors. Self-esteem model was significant (F(12,425) = 6.40, P < 0.001, R = 0.153) with known HIV-seropositivity, perceived social support, internalized homonegativity, and LGB difficult process as predictors. Condom use model was significant (F(13,379) = 4.30, P < 0.001, R = 0.128) with perceived social support, self-esteem, and reactions to trauma as predictors. HIV testing model was significant (F(12,377) = 4.75, P < 0.001, R = 0.131) with loneliness, LGB identity uncertainty, LGB difficult process, and LGB identity superiority as predictors.

This study demonstrates the variety of ways in which intrapersonal and interpersonal factors are associated with HIV-related resilient outcomes for young GBMSM in Western Kenya. HIV prevention programs for this population should be developed in collaboration with GBMSM and include intervention components that promote resilience.

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By: Harper GW1, Wade RM, Onyango DP, Abuor PA, Bauermeister JA, Odero WW, Bailey RC.

• 1Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA bNyanza Rift Valley and Western Kenya (NYARWEK) Network c Nyanza Reproductive Health Society, Kisumu, Kenya d School of Medicine, Maseno University e Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health.

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Relationship Between Tobacco Retailers’ Point-of-Sale Marketing and the Density of Same-Sex Couples, 97 U.S. Counties, 2012

The reasons for higher rates of smoking among lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) people than among heterosexual people are not well known. Research on internal migration and neighborhood selection suggests that LGB people are more likely to live in neighborhoods where the tobacco industry has historically targeted their marketing efforts (lower income, more racial/ethnic diversity). We used multi-level models to assess the relationship between the rate of same-sex couples per 1000 coupled households and 2012 marketing characteristics of tobacco retailers (n = 2231) in 1696 census tracts in 97 U.S. counties. We found no evidence of tobacco marketing at retailers differing by same-sex couple rates in census tracts with the exception of three findings in the opposite direction of our hypotheses: a small, significant positive relationship for the rate of same-sex male couples and the price of Newport Green (mentholated) cigarettes. For male and female same-sex couples, we also found a small negative relationship between tobacco advertisements and same-sex household rate. Tobacco retailers’ tobacco marketing characteristics do not differ substantially by the rate of same-sex couples in their neighborhood in ways that would promote LGB health disparities. Further work is needed to determine if these patterns are similar for non-partnered LGB people.

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