Lecture 9 Social determinants of MH in LGBT populations

Question 1

Evelyn Hooker

Answer 1

• homosexuality= psychopathy was challenged
• compared 30 heterosexual men and 30 homosexual men– using battery test of psychopathy
• no diff between 2 samples
• homosexuality removed from DSM- II

Question 2

societal stigma…

Answer 2

affects well-being

Question 3

S.O + mental health

Answer 3

• depression + anxiety
• suicidal ideation
• suicide attempts (highest)
• substance misuse

Question 4

lesbian + bisexual women mental health?

Answer 4

• higher rates of smoking, alcohol abuse, illicit drug use

Question 5

younger lesbian + bisexual women mental health?

Answer 5

higher depression, anxiety, self-harm

Question 6

whats the minority stress hypothesis

Answer 6

• minority stress processes (distal)= objectively experience discrimination
• proximal= internalised homophobia, social avoidance, concealment (fear of being discovered)

Question 7

what are the distal stressors: prejudiced events

Answer 7

• formal= laws like against same sex marriage, employment discrimination
• informal= exclusion from parents, friends
• verbal, physical harassment
• prejudiced events= rly traumatic, vulnerability

Question 8

Burton, Marshal (2013)

do experiences of discrimination account for LGB mental health disparities?

Answer 8

• sexual minority specific victimization= direct link to depression
• higher alcohol consumption
• no increase for heterosexuals

Question 9

proximal stressors

Answer 9

• internal stress= from stereotypes, prejudice, discrimination
• traits= due to victimisation

Question 10

what are the proximal stressors: internalised homophobia

Answer 10

internalised homophobia= internalisation of negative societal attitudes about homosexuality

• feel disconnected from other LGB’s= but reminded, when they see LGB’s
• extreme case= try to convert self to adjust social norms
• low self-esteem
• inner conflict
• correlates: age, religiosity, lower income

Question 11

what is stigma consciousness?

Answer 11

expectations of negative reactions to one’s stigmatised status= so like you expect people to see you badly based on your status of homosexuality

Question 12

stigma consciousness + concealment

Answer 12

• linked to social anxiety and depression in LGBs

- can strongly predict psychological distress than objective instances of victimisation

Question 13

concealment

Answer 13

• constantly scared that people are gonna find out

- so you monitor yourself= try to not make it obvious

Question 14

outness consequences

women and men diff?

Answer 14

• not consistently linked to improved well-being= depends on tolerance of person’s env (ex. if school safe env to come out or nah)
• could be positive–> increase well-being
• could be negative–> more exposure to harassment
• women= come out= positive
• men= come out= negative= because of gender roles

Question 15

connectedness with LGB community

Answer 15

• support against stigma, discrimination
• disconfirmation of negative stereotypes about other LGB’s
• can make comparisons with people who are like you= higher self-esteem

Question 16

challenges to minority stress hypothesis

Answer 16

1. correlational / mostly cross-sectional studies= can’t infer causality
2. non-representative sampling–> low base rate
3. can’t describe mechanisms through which minority stress increases mental health difficulties
4. are MH discrepancies among male S.O groups illusory= because of inappropriate group comparisons?