Internalized homophobia and relationship quality among lesbians, gay men, and bisexuals.

Abstract

We examined the associations between internalized homophobia, outness, community connectedness, depressive symptoms, and relationship quality among a diverse community sample of 396 lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals. Structural equation models showed that internalized homophobia was associated with greater relationship problems both generally and among coupled participants independent of outness and community connectedness. Depressive symptoms mediated the association between internalized homophobia and relationship problems. This study improves current understandings of the association between internalized homophobia and relationship quality by distinguishing between the effects of the core construct of internalized homophobia and its correlates and outcomes. The findings are useful for counselors interested in interventions and treatment approaches to help LGB individuals cope with internalized homophobia and relationship problems.Keywords internalized homophobia; relationship quality; community connectedness; outness; depression; gay men; lesbians; bisexuals Internalized homophobia represents "the gay person's direction of negative social attitudes toward the self" (Meyer & Dean, 1998, p. 161) and in its extreme forms, it can lead to the rejection of one's sexual orientation. Internalized homophobia is further characterized by an intrapsychic conflict between experiences of same-sex affection or desire and feeling a need to be heterosexual (Herek, 2004). Theories of identity development among lesbians, gay men, and bisexuals (LGB) suggest that internalized homophobia is commonly experienced in the process of LGB identity development and overcoming internalized homophobia is essential to the development of a healthy self-concept (Cass, 1979; Fingerhut, Peplau, & Hgavami, 2005;Mayfield, 2001;Rowen & Malcolm, 2002;Troiden, 1979;. Furthermore, internalized homophobia may never be completely overcome, thus it could affect LGB individuals long after coming out (Gonsiorek, 1988). Research has shown that internalized homophobia has a negative impact on LGBs' global self-concept including mental health and well being (Allen & Oleson, 1999;Herek, Cogan, Gillis, & Glunt, 1998;Meyer & Dean, 1998;Rowen & Malcolm, 2002 NIH-PA Author ManuscriptNIH-PA Author Manuscript NIH-PA Author ManuscriptRecent research on internalized homophobia and mental health has adopted a minority stress perspective (DiPlacido, 1998;Meyer 1995;2003a). Stress theory posits that stressors are any factors or conditions that lead to change and require adaptation by individuals (Dohrenwend, 1998;Lazarus & Folkman, 1984; Pearlin, 1999). Meyer (2003a, b) has extended this to discuss minority stressors, which strain individuals who are in a disadvantaged social position because they require adaptation to an inhospitable social environment, such as the LGB person's heterosexist social environment (Meyer, Schwartz, & Frost, 2008). In a meta-analytic review of the epidemiology of mental health disorders among heterosexual and LGB indiv...

Barriers to Sexual Expression and Safe Sex Among Mexican Gay Men

“…Even though the role of emotions in the prevention and treatment of STIs has been present in some studies carried out elsewhere, little is known of the emotional experiences of gay men and their links to sexual practices, particularly in Mexico (Fortenberry et al, 2002;Granados & Delgado, 2007;Gutiérrez, 2012). Literature from the United States has revealed underlying aspects of internalized and cultural homophobia that affect daily lives of gay men, particularly their partner relationships, emotions (expressed in mental health issues), and sexual practices (Frost, 2011;Frost & Meyer, 2009), thus establishing an important relationship between lived emotions and homophobia. In Mexico, research on these topics is limited (Cruz, 2004;Granados & Delgado, 2007).…”

Minority stress among homosexual and bisexual individuals – from theoretical concepts to research tools: The Sexual Minority Stress Scale

“…He conducted studies on the model in the 1990s, and the model has consistently been verified by subsequent studies. The model primarily incorporates elements such as internalized homophobia, expectation of rejection and concealing one's sexual preferences (outness), along with concepts such as connectedness or identification with the minority community [40,41]. As this model has already been described in Polish research literature [13,20], a detailed description of it will not be attempted here.…”

“…The subscale is arranged in pairs -level of disclosure and satisfaction. Outness was not an element of the minority stress model created by Meyer [11], although it was taken into account in later studies [40].…”

Perspectives on contemporary lesbian relationships

“…Examining the effect of sexual minority stress at the individual level is important as it has been shown to contribute to deleterious mental and physical health outcomes (e.g., Frost, Lehavot, & Meyer, 2013;Lick, Durso, & Johnson, 2013), as well as to lower relationship quality (e.g., Frost & Meyer, 2009). Notably, the conceptualization of sexual minority stress has recently been expanded to account for the way this process may operate at the couple level.…”