Internalized Sexual Stigma among Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Individuals in Taiwan: Its Related Factors and Association with Mental Health Problems

Abstract

Internalized sexual stigma (ISS) is one of the major issues that can compromise the health of sexual minority populations. This quantitative study aimed to examine: (1) the relationships of individual factors (gender, age, education level, sexual orientation, and age of identification of sexual orientation) and perceived family support with ISS; and (2) the associations of ISS with mood problems and the moderating effects of gender on the associations among Taiwanese young adult lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals. In total, 500 male and 500 female young adult LGB individuals aged between 20 and 30 years participated in this study. The experience of ISS, individual (e.g., gender, age, education level, sexual orientation, and age of identification of sexual orientation) and environmental factors (perceived family), mood problems (e.g., anxiety and depression) were collected. The individual and environmental factors related to ISS and the associations of ISS with mood problems were examined using multivariate linear regression analysis. The results indicated that gender, sexual orientation, age of identification of sexual orientation, and perceived family support were significantly associated with all or some dimensions of ISS in LGB individuals. Various dimensions of ISS had different relationships with anxiety and depression. Gender had moderating effects on the association between the identity dimension of ISS and sexual orientation as well as between the social discomfort dimension of ISS and anxiety. Various dimensions of ISS among LGB individuals should be routinely assessed by mental health service units. Intervention programs should be provided for LGB individuals, especially those with factors related to ISS.

Assessing Enacted Sexual Stigma toward Gay and Bisexual Men in the Military: The Enacted Sexual Stigma Experiences Scale in Military Service

“…This present study also found that bisexual participants reported a higher ESS in the military service compared with gay participants. Studies have also reported that bisexual men experienced more social and internalized sexual stigma compared with gay men [38,39]. Compared with the RAND study [5], the participants of this present study reported fewer experiences of physical injuries such as pushing, kicking, slamming, or other physical attack (1.5% vs. 7%).…”

Psychometric Evaluation of Three Versions of the UCLA Loneliness Scale (Full, Eight-Item, and Three-Item Versions) among Sexual Minority Men in Taiwan

“…According to the social ecological model [21], sexual-minority men's loneliness is the result of the interactions between individuals and their environments. In Taiwan, sexual orientation bullying [22,23], microaggressions and internalized homonegativity [24] are common. People in Taiwan have also shown their prejudicial attitudes toward sexualminority individuals during the debate on legalizing same-sex relationships [25][26][27][28][29][30][31].…”

Relationships of familial sexual stigma and family support with internalized homonegativity among lesbian, gay and bisexual individuals: The mediating effect of self-identity disturbance and moderating effect of gender

“…Examining the factors that influence the formation of internalized homonegativity is the essential step to develop intervention programs. Research has found that an older age of identification of sexual orientation [ 20 ], being religiously active [ 21 ], having more lifetime heterosexual attractions [ 21 ], being more interested in having children and a child-centered family life [ 21 ] are significantly associated with higher internalized homonegativity among LGB individuals.…”