‘Why is it so different now I’m bisexual?’: young bisexual people’s experiences of identity, belonging, self-injury, and COVID19

Dunlop, Brendan J; Hunter, Cheryl; Shafti, Matina; Coleman, Sophie Elizabeth; Hartley, Samantha; Taylor, Peter

doi:10.1080/19419899.2021.1924241

Cited by 9 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 37 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Conversely, participants expressed feeling “lucky” or “guilty” when their therapist was knowledgeable about or responded positively to their bisexuality. This mirrors previous research findings and suggests that bisexuality is not perceived as socially desirable or acceptable to others (Dunlop, Hunter, et al, 2022). Overall, anticipated and experienced stigma negatively impacted the therapeutic relationship and often exacerbated participants’ distress.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

Bisexual women's experiences of receiving help for mental health difficulties through psychological therapy: A qualitative exploration.

Pitt¹,

Taylor²,

Dunlop³

2024

Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Bisexual women face higher rates of mental health difficulties and worse treatment outcomes from psychological therapies than other groups within the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) community. Yet, research exploring treatment outcomes has predominantly investigated LGBTQ+ individuals as a homogenous group. This study investigated bisexual women's experiences of receiving help for mental health difficulties through psychological therapy. Eight bisexual women participated in online, semistructured qualitative interviews that explored their experiences of receiving psychological therapy and views on how to improve services. Qualitative data were audio-recorded, transcribed, and inductively analyzed using Reflexive Thematic Analysis. Participants described challenges, such as experiences of discrimination, that came with being both bisexual and a woman, alongside exacerbating difficulties associated with being neurodivergent or part of a marginalized ethnic group. These experiences led them to anticipate biphobia from their therapist, which participants managed through strategies such as identity concealment. Negative help-seeking experiences included therapists pathologizing bisexuality. Positive experiences included where therapists adopted a nonjudgmental and collaborative approach. Participants emphasized the importance of feeling that their identity was understood but expressed differing opinions about whether client-therapist identity matching is necessary. Results highlight the challenges associated with navigating bisexuality within clinical encounters amongst other marginalized identities, alongside the need for bisexual women to actively manage these challenges to keep themselves safe. Clinical implications include the need for therapists to receive training about bisexual women's needs and to acknowledge the impact of social and systemic injustice relating to their marginalized identities within clinical formulations.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

Bisexual women's experiences of receiving help for mental health difficulties through psychological therapy: A qualitative exploration.

Pitt¹,

Taylor²,

Dunlop³

2024

Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Thwarted belongingness (the perception of impeded closeness to others, and the resulting unmet need to belong: Joiner, 2005; Van Orden et al, 2012) has been associated with NSSI risk for Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual (LGB) students (Taylor et al, 2018), and for bisexual people as an independent group (Dunlop et al, 2020). Bisexual people can feel unwelcome and unsupported within the LGBT community (Dunlop et al, 2021; Ross et al, 2010). In the Bower et al (2002) qualitative study, one participant described: “It's always viewed as sitting on a fence…You're neither fish nor fowl…you get shot at from both sides.” Perception of “outsider” status may lead to increased feelings of isolation and thwarted belonging that could increase risk for NSSI.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Self‐injury in young bisexual people: A microlongitudinal investigation (SIBL) of thwarted belongingness and self‐esteem on non‐suicidal self‐injury

Dunlop

Coleman

Hartley

et al. 2021

Suicide & Life Threat Behav

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Other studies reported on mental health differences across groups, such as minoritised groups, [ 38 , 42 , 43 , 48 , 53 , 54 , 70 , 74 , 77 , 80 , 81 , 90 , 91 , 98 , 102 , 103 ] those with experience of a specific condition [ 39 , 49 , 50 , 104 ] or mental health difficulties prior to the pandemic [ 59 , 60 , 67 , 81 , 104 , 112 – 115 ]. All UK studies exploring experiences of LGBTQ+ YP aged 12–25 [ 42 , 43 , 54 , 102 ], reported maladaptive coping mechanisms such as self-harm [ 54 , 102 ], (although one study specified experience of self-harm as a recruitment criterion), and alcohol or drugs [ 43 , 54 ]. In Sweden, young people who identified as queer also reported suicidal thoughts, or fear of their friends dying by suicide [ 77 ].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Most YP mentioned practicing self-care or using self-management techniques to manage their mental health and wellbeing. Some techniques that were common between countries or groups included distraction and keeping busy [ 53 , 54 , 81 , 88 , 93 , 95 , 112 ], physical exercise [ 40 , 43 , 45 , 53 , 81 , 96 , 112 ], spending time with pets [ 38 , 43 , 47 , 53 , 81 ], cooking [ 40 , 45 , 56 , 81 , 108 ], online gaming with friends [ 44 , 45 ], listening to music [ 40 , 45 , 53 , 64 , 81 ], and reading [ 40 , 45 , 56 , 64 ].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The impact of COVID-19 on young people’s mental health, wellbeing and routine from a European perspective: A co-produced qualitative systematic review

Dewa,

Roberts,

Choong

et al. 2024

PLoS ONE

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on young people’s (YP) mental health has been mixed. Systematic reviews to date have focused predominantly on quantitative studies and lacked involvement from YP with lived experience of mental health difficulties. Therefore, our primary aim was to conduct a qualitative systematic review to examine the perceived impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on YP’s (aged 10–24) mental health and wellbeing across Europe. Methods and findings We searched MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Embase, Web of Science, MEDRXIV, OSF preprints, Google, and voluntary sector websites for studies published from 1st January 2020 to 15th November 2022. European studies were included if they reported qualitative data that could be extracted on YP’s (aged 10–24) own perspectives of their experiences of Covid-19 and related disruptions to their mental health and wellbeing. Screening, data extraction and appraisal was conducted independently in duplicate by researchers and YP with lived experience of mental health difficulties (co-researchers). Confidence was assessed using the Confidence in the Evidence from Reviews of Qualitative Research (CERQual) approach. We co-produced an adapted narrative thematic synthesis with co-researchers. This study is registered with PROSPERO, CRD42021251578. We found 82 publications and included 77 unique studies in our narrative synthesis. Most studies were from the UK (n = 50; 65%); and generated data during the first Covid-19 wave (March-May 2020; n = 33; 43%). Across the 79,491 participants, views, and experiences of YP minoritised by ethnicity and sexual orientation, and from marginalised or vulnerable YP were limited. Five synthesised themes were identified: negative impact of pandemic information and restrictions on wellbeing; education and learning on wellbeing; social connection to prevent loneliness and disconnection; emotional, lifestyle and behavioural changes; and mental health support. YP’s mental health and wellbeing across Europe were reported to have fluctuated during the pandemic. Challenges were similar but coping strategies to manage the impact of these challenges on mental health varied across person, study, and country. Short-term impacts were related to the consequences of changing restrictions on social connection, day-to-day lifestyle, and education set-up. However, YP identified potential issues in these areas going forward, and therefore stressed the importance of ongoing long-term support in education, learning and mental health post-Covid-19. Conclusions Our findings map onto the complex picture seen from quantitative systematic reviews regarding the impact of Covid-19 on YP’s mental health. The comparatively little qualitative data found in our review means there is an urgent need for more high-quality qualitative research outside of the UK and/or about the experiences of minoritised groups to ensure all voices are heard and everyone is getting the support they need following the pandemic. YP’s voices need to be prioritised in decision-making processes on education, self-care strategies, and mental health and wellbeing, to drive impactful, meaningful policy changes in anticipation of a future systemic crisis.

show abstract

‘Why is it so different now I’m bisexual?’: young bisexual people’s experiences of identity, belonging, self-injury, and COVID19

Cited by 9 publications

References 37 publications

Bisexual women's experiences of receiving help for mental health difficulties through psychological therapy: A qualitative exploration.

Bisexual women's experiences of receiving help for mental health difficulties through psychological therapy: A qualitative exploration.

Self‐injury in young bisexual people: A microlongitudinal investigation (SIBL) of thwarted belongingness and self‐esteem on non‐suicidal self‐injury

The impact of COVID-19 on young people’s mental health, wellbeing and routine from a European perspective: A co-produced qualitative systematic review

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About