scholarly journals Differences in sexual identity dimensions between bisexual and other sexual minority individuals: Implications for minority stress and mental health.

2019 ◽  
Vol 89 (1) ◽  
pp. 40-51 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chaïm la Roi ◽  
Ilan H. Meyer ◽  
David M. Frost
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Sexual Identity ◽  
Sexual Minority ◽  
Minority Stress

scholarly journals “Here in the Bible Belt, It’s Predominantly Negative”: Sexual Identity Stigma in the American South, 50 Years After Stonewall

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph J. Frey ◽  
William J. Hall ◽  
Jeremy T. Goldbach ◽  
Paul Lanier
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
United States ◽  
Health Disparities ◽  
Sexual Identity ◽  
Minority Stress ◽  
The United States ◽  
Mental Health Disparities ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
United States South ◽  
The Impact

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and pansexual (LGB+) individuals have disproportionate rates of mental illness. Minority stress and sexual identity stigma are posited as the primary social determinants of LGB+ mental health disparities. Discussions in the literature have questioned the impact of sexual identity stigma in a world increasingly accepting of sexual minorities. Additionally, the LGB+ population in the United States South is often overlooked in American research. This article details a qualitative study exploring experiences related to sexual identity stigma among adults who identify as LGB+ in the United States South. Semi-structured interviews with 16 individuals were analyzed using content analysis. Six thematic categories of stigma emerged from participants’ experiences: (a) navigating an LGB+ identity, (b) social acceptability of an LGB+ identity, (c) expectation of LGB+ stigma, (d) interpersonal discrimination and harassment, (e) structural stigma, and (f) relationship with the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) community. Findings suggest that sexual identity stigma remains a common experience among these Southern United States participants. Further, thematic categories and subcategories primarily aligned with extant theory with one exception: Intracommunity stigma, a form of stigma emanating from the LGBTQ community, emerged as a stigma type not currently accounted for in theoretical foundations underpinning mental health disparities in this population.

Sexual Orientation Identity in Relation to Minority Stress and Mental Health in Sexual Minority Women

LGBT Health ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (5) ◽  
pp. 350-356 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jae A. Puckett ◽  
Francisco I. Surace ◽  
Heidi M. Levitt ◽  
Sharon G. Horne
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Sexual Orientation ◽  
Sexual Minority ◽  
Minority Stress ◽  
Minority Women ◽  
Sexual Minority Women ◽  
Sexual Orientation Identity

Longitudinal Examination of a Bisexual-Specific Minority Stress Process Among Bisexual Cisgender Women

2018 ◽  
Vol 42 (3) ◽  
pp. 342-360 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina Dyar ◽  
Bonita London
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Sexual Identity ◽  
Minority Stress ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Stress Process ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Predominately White ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Visibility Management

Bisexual individuals experience increased risk of mental health disorders compared to lesbian, gay, and heterosexual populations. This increased risk is theorized to arise from the stigmatization of bisexuality (i.e., anti-bisexual stigma). Research has linked anti-bisexual experiences with higher internalized binegativity (i.e., internalized anti-bisexual stigma), sexual identity uncertainty, and anxiety and depression. However, researchers have almost exclusively used cross-sectional designs, limiting our ability to draw conclusions about processes through which anti-bisexual stigma affects mental health. In the current study, we longitudinally examined a proposed bisexual-specific minority stress process in a sample of predominately White (92.2%), self-identified bisexual, cisgender women. Results provide support for the proposed process, indicating that experiencing more frequent anti-bisexual stigma predicted subsequent increases in internalized binegativity and sexual identity uncertainty. In turn, these increases in internalized binegativity were associated with concurrent decreases in strength of identification as bisexual, increases in strength of identification with monosexual identity labels (i.e., heterosexual, lesbian), and changes in visibility management strategies. These changes in identification were associated with concurrent increases in symptoms of anxiety and depression, and changes in visibility management were associated with increases in anxiety. Clinicians should consider this process when treating bisexual clients who present with psychological distress arising from anti-bisexual stigma.

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