The Influence of Concerns About a Child’s Sexual Orientation on Mental Health Among Parents of Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Children in Hong Kong

Chan, Randolph C. H.; Suen, Yiu Tung; Wong, Eliz Miu Yin

doi:10.1007/s10508-022-02374-9

Cited by 3 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 50 publications

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“…Our finding that stigma experiences are associated with anxiety and depressive symptoms in parents of SGM youth corroborates previous qualitative studies in which parents describe feelings of sadness, anger, worry, concern, hypervigilance, and anxiety in relation to anti-SGM stigma targeting their children (Arm et al, 2009; Chan et al, 2022; Horne et al, 2011; Riley et al, 2011). Further, this finding supports quantitative studies conducted with other parents of stigmatized children, including children with intellectual, developmental, and mental health disorders, documenting associations between parents’ exposure to stigma toward these statuses and psychological difficulties (Chen et al, 2021; Mitter et al, 2019; Recio et al, 2021).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

“…One of these studies of parents of LGB children found that concern about a child’s marginalization due to their LGB identity was associated with worse parental psychological functioning (Rith, 2020). Another study found that parents’ child-oriented concern (i.e., worry about how their child’s LGB identity may negatively impact their child’s life and well-being) and family-oriented concern (i.e., worry about their child’s LGB identity interfering with family expectations and responsibilities) were positively associated with parents’ anxiety and depressive symptoms, respectively (Chan et al, 2022). These studies suggest that vicarious stigma may be associated with mental health difficulties in parents of SGM youth, calling for additional research to characterize associations between other stigma domains identified in the LGB-ASM (i.e., discrimination/rejection and shame) and parent mental health.…”

Section: Stigma Experiences and Parents Of Sgm Childrenmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Stigma and anxiety and depressive symptoms in parents of sexual and gender minority youth.

Clark,

Argiros,

Dougherty

et al. 2024

Journal of Family Psychology

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Parents of sexual and gender minority (SGM) youth play an important role in supporting their SGM child’s mental health in the face of stigma. Yet, parents of SGM youth may themselves experience stigma, including discrimination/rejection, and its emotional consequences, including vicarious stigma and shame. The present cross-sectional study leveraged a national sample of parents of SGM youth to investigate associations between parents’ stigma experiences and self-reported anxiety and depression symptoms. Further, we additionally explored sociodemographic and contextual correlates of parents’ stigma experiences. Participants included 264 parents (Mage = 46) who reported having at least one SGM child under age 30 (Mage = 18). The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual-Affiliate Stigma Measure (LGB-ASM) assessed parents’ experiences of discrimination/rejection (e.g., actual and anticipated rejection experiences due to having an SGM child), vicarious stigma (e.g., worry and concern for one’s SGM child), and shame (e.g., feeling embarrassed for having an SGM child). Parents indicated their anxiety and depressive symptoms using respective Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System—short forms. Results showed that vicarious stigma and shame, but not discrimination/rejection, were uniquely associated with parents’ increased symptoms of anxiety (vicarious stigma: β = 1.59, p < .001; shame: β = 2.15, p < .001) and depression (vicarious stigma: β = 0.90, p < .01; shame: β = 2.77, p < .001). Further, parents with more accepting religious, racial, ethnic, and/or cultural communities reported lower stigma experiences. This study advances understanding of how the psychological consequences of stigma extend beyond SGM people themselves and contribute to mental health difficulties in parents of SGM youth.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

Section: Stigma Experiences and Parents Of Sgm Childrenmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stigma and anxiety and depressive symptoms in parents of sexual and gender minority youth.

Clark,

Argiros,

Dougherty

et al. 2024

Journal of Family Psychology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Specifically, parents may experience feelings of guilt or self‐blame regarding their child's gender identity. They may also worry about their child being targeted due to their gender identity and/or expression and have concerns that their child may not fulfill filial obligations to enter into a cisheteronormative marriage and continue the family line (Chan et al., 2022). These factors may play a crucial role in shaping parents' responses toward their TNB child and contribute to family violence.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gender identity differences in the experiences of family stressors and violence among transgender and non‐binary individuals in China

Chan,

Suen,

Leung

2024

Family Process

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Emerging research has demonstrated that transgender and non‐binary (TNB) individuals face an elevated risk of experiencing family rejection and violence. However, there remains a significant knowledge gap regarding how TNB individuals manage stressors and their gender identity within the family context, particularly in regions where TNB individuals are highly stigmatized and where legal protections against family violence are lacking. The present study represents one of the first pioneering efforts to provide large‐scale quantitative data examining the experiences of family stressors, the management of gender identity and expression, and family violence among TNB individuals in China. A national sample of 1063 TNB individuals in China was involved in the study. They completed questionnaires about their experiences of family stressors and violence. The results indicated that 76.0% of TNB individuals reported having encountered at least one form of violence perpetrated by their family members. Transfeminine individuals were more likely to report experiencing emotional and physical abuse, whereas transmasculine individuals were more likely to be subjected to gender identity and/or expression change efforts. Family stressors, including family non‐acceptance and the pressure to marry and reproduce, were positively associated with non‐disclosure of gender identity, the suppression of gender expression, and family violence. The findings underscore the substantial burden of family violence borne by TNB individuals in China, which warrants immediate legal, institutional, and social responses. Trans‐inclusive family violence prevention and intervention are urgently needed, with a focus on Chinese cultural factors and gender identity differences in violence screening and risk assessment.

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Sex Conservatism, Internalized Homonegativity, PrEP Stigma, and Intention to Use PrEP: A Study of Chinese-Speaking Gay and Bisexual Male Youth in Hong Kong

Suen

Chan

Wong

2022

AIDS Education and Prevention

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Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) stigma has been found to be a major barrier to PrEP acceptability and uptake. Research has found that different ethnic/cultural groups display varying levels of PrEP stigma. This article studies sex conservatism and internalized homonegativity as two sexuality- and culture-related aspects that influence PrEP stigma and intention to use PrEP. An online survey of 279 young gay and bisexual men in Hong Kong found that internalized homonegativity was positively associated with PrEP stigma. Respondents who were more conservative about sex showed lower intention to use PrEP, whereas those who had higher income and more positive attitudes about PrEP were more likely to express intention to use PrEP. This study provides novel empirical evidence for understanding PrEP stigma and uptake from a sexuality and cultural perspective. The influence of sexuality- and culture-related factors on PrEP stigma and uptake warrants greater attention, especially in the Asia-Pacific region.

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The Influence of Concerns About a Child’s Sexual Orientation on Mental Health Among Parents of Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Children in Hong Kong

Cited by 3 publications

References 50 publications

Stigma and anxiety and depressive symptoms in parents of sexual and gender minority youth.

Stigma and anxiety and depressive symptoms in parents of sexual and gender minority youth.

Gender identity differences in the experiences of family stressors and violence among transgender and non‐binary individuals in China

Sex Conservatism, Internalized Homonegativity, PrEP Stigma, and Intention to Use PrEP: A Study of Chinese-Speaking Gay and Bisexual Male Youth in Hong Kong

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