Homophobia: Is it a heterosexual “privilege”?
Introduction The context of stigma, in which many homosexuals live, exposes them to discrimination/stigmatization and promotes the internalization of negative attitudes about sexuality. Battle feelings of rejection and isolation may lead to the development of internalized homophobia (IH). Object...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Cambridge University Press
2021-04-01
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| Series: | European Psychiatry |
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| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933821014577/type/journal_article |
| _version_ | 1827753780860420096 |
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| author | I. Kourtesis |
| author_facet | I. Kourtesis |
| author_sort | I. Kourtesis |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Introduction
The context of stigma, in which many homosexuals live, exposes them to discrimination/stigmatization and promotes the internalization of negative attitudes about sexuality. Battle feelings of rejection and isolation may lead to the development of internalized homophobia (IH).
Objectives
To elucidate the risk factors of IH and how the latter affects mental health.
Methods
Literature review (PubMed).
Results
IH has been associated with lower levels of emotional stability, rejection sensitivity, impairments in emotion regulation and a tendency to turn against the self. Studies have connected IH to depression, poor self/relationship wellbeing, sexual discrimination, addictions, shame, body dissatisfaction, suicidal ideation, binge eating/drinking, partner violence and victimization. Higher levels of attachment anxiety and avoidance, outness, religiosity and internalized stigma were correlated with higher IH levels. The key factors relating to suicide include lack of acceptance by family and/or self, negative feelings about sexuality/gender and appearance dissatisfaction. In traditional/religious societies, heterosexual orientation is a strong norm and homosexuality is considered unacceptable leading LGBT individuals to report higher depressive symptoms and increased levels of IH. Due to heterosexist ideals, IH is a predictor for heterosexual marital intention, protests against LGBT and use of masculinity as a compensatory strategy.
Conclusions
Policies in support of individuals who have recently come out should be improved to reduce the development/effects of IH and take the social and sexual environments of rural gay men into account considering ways to increase service accessibility (e.g internet). Future research is needed to further understand the association between IH and mental health, social and cognitive mechanisms.
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| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T07:40:01Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6182d940bf5c45c188d369ad76aca134 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0924-9338 1778-3585 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T07:40:01Z |
| publishDate | 2021-04-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | European Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj.art-6182d940bf5c45c188d369ad76aca1342023-11-17T05:08:43ZengCambridge University PressEuropean Psychiatry0924-93381778-35852021-04-0164S547S54710.1192/j.eurpsy.2021.1457Homophobia: Is it a heterosexual “privilege”?I. Kourtesis0Department Of Adult Psychiatry, Psychiatric Hospital of Athens “Dafni”, ATHENS, Greece Introduction The context of stigma, in which many homosexuals live, exposes them to discrimination/stigmatization and promotes the internalization of negative attitudes about sexuality. Battle feelings of rejection and isolation may lead to the development of internalized homophobia (IH). Objectives To elucidate the risk factors of IH and how the latter affects mental health. Methods Literature review (PubMed). Results IH has been associated with lower levels of emotional stability, rejection sensitivity, impairments in emotion regulation and a tendency to turn against the self. Studies have connected IH to depression, poor self/relationship wellbeing, sexual discrimination, addictions, shame, body dissatisfaction, suicidal ideation, binge eating/drinking, partner violence and victimization. Higher levels of attachment anxiety and avoidance, outness, religiosity and internalized stigma were correlated with higher IH levels. The key factors relating to suicide include lack of acceptance by family and/or self, negative feelings about sexuality/gender and appearance dissatisfaction. In traditional/religious societies, heterosexual orientation is a strong norm and homosexuality is considered unacceptable leading LGBT individuals to report higher depressive symptoms and increased levels of IH. Due to heterosexist ideals, IH is a predictor for heterosexual marital intention, protests against LGBT and use of masculinity as a compensatory strategy. Conclusions Policies in support of individuals who have recently come out should be improved to reduce the development/effects of IH and take the social and sexual environments of rural gay men into account considering ways to increase service accessibility (e.g internet). Future research is needed to further understand the association between IH and mental health, social and cognitive mechanisms. https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933821014577/type/journal_articleLGBTstigmatizationdiscriminationinternalized homophobia |
| spellingShingle | I. Kourtesis Homophobia: Is it a heterosexual “privilege”? European Psychiatry LGBT stigmatization discrimination internalized homophobia |
| title | Homophobia: Is it a heterosexual “privilege”? |
| title_full | Homophobia: Is it a heterosexual “privilege”? |
| title_fullStr | Homophobia: Is it a heterosexual “privilege”? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Homophobia: Is it a heterosexual “privilege”? |
| title_short | Homophobia: Is it a heterosexual “privilege”? |
| title_sort | homophobia is it a heterosexual privilege |
| topic | LGBT stigmatization discrimination internalized homophobia |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933821014577/type/journal_article |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ikourtesis homophobiaisitaheterosexualprivilege |