Gender, Shame, and Social Support in LGBTQI+ Exposed to Discrimination: A Model for Understanding the Impact on Mental Health
Discrimination and homonegativity have been consistently linked to poorer mental health outcomes in LGBTQI+ individuals. However, little is known about the role of internal shame and the potential moderating role of social support. This cross-sectional study investigated the impact of discrimination...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-08-01
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| Series: | Social Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/12/8/454 |
| _version_ | 1797583216026058752 |
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| author | Joana Cabral Tiago Miguel Pinto |
| author_facet | Joana Cabral Tiago Miguel Pinto |
| author_sort | Joana Cabral |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Discrimination and homonegativity have been consistently linked to poorer mental health outcomes in LGBTQI+ individuals. However, little is known about the role of internal shame and the potential moderating role of social support. This cross-sectional study investigated the impact of discrimination, internal shame, and social support on mental health outcomes in LGBTQI+ individuals, exploring the intersection between gender and sexual orientation. LGBTQI+ participants, especially women, reveal higher levels of discrimination and shame and a stronger impact on mental health outcomes compared to heterosexual counter-partners. Internal shame was found to mediate the impact of discrimination on depression and anxiety. Social support was found to buffer the impact of discrimination on internal shame, depression, and anxiety. These findings have important implications for clinical practice with LGBTQI+ individuals, suggesting that addressing internal shame and building social support networks are central to promoting resilience and mental health. Results also highlight that gender and sexual orientation should be considered in an intersectional approach when addressing gender-based violence and discrimination and its impact on mental health. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T23:34:43Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-802e41f34f77477699a9103dc733eaa3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-0760 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T23:34:43Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Social Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-802e41f34f77477699a9103dc733eaa32023-11-19T03:01:25ZengMDPI AGSocial Sciences2076-07602023-08-0112845410.3390/socsci12080454Gender, Shame, and Social Support in LGBTQI+ Exposed to Discrimination: A Model for Understanding the Impact on Mental HealthJoana Cabral0Tiago Miguel Pinto1Digital Human-Environment Interaction Lab–HEI-Lab, Lusófona University, 1749-024 Lisboa, PortugalDigital Human-Environment Interaction Lab–HEI-Lab, Lusófona University, 1749-024 Lisboa, PortugalDiscrimination and homonegativity have been consistently linked to poorer mental health outcomes in LGBTQI+ individuals. However, little is known about the role of internal shame and the potential moderating role of social support. This cross-sectional study investigated the impact of discrimination, internal shame, and social support on mental health outcomes in LGBTQI+ individuals, exploring the intersection between gender and sexual orientation. LGBTQI+ participants, especially women, reveal higher levels of discrimination and shame and a stronger impact on mental health outcomes compared to heterosexual counter-partners. Internal shame was found to mediate the impact of discrimination on depression and anxiety. Social support was found to buffer the impact of discrimination on internal shame, depression, and anxiety. These findings have important implications for clinical practice with LGBTQI+ individuals, suggesting that addressing internal shame and building social support networks are central to promoting resilience and mental health. Results also highlight that gender and sexual orientation should be considered in an intersectional approach when addressing gender-based violence and discrimination and its impact on mental health.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/12/8/454gender-based violencediscriminationmental healthLGBTQI+shamesocial support |
| spellingShingle | Joana Cabral Tiago Miguel Pinto Gender, Shame, and Social Support in LGBTQI+ Exposed to Discrimination: A Model for Understanding the Impact on Mental Health Social Sciences gender-based violence discrimination mental health LGBTQI+ shame social support |
| title | Gender, Shame, and Social Support in LGBTQI+ Exposed to Discrimination: A Model for Understanding the Impact on Mental Health |
| title_full | Gender, Shame, and Social Support in LGBTQI+ Exposed to Discrimination: A Model for Understanding the Impact on Mental Health |
| title_fullStr | Gender, Shame, and Social Support in LGBTQI+ Exposed to Discrimination: A Model for Understanding the Impact on Mental Health |
| title_full_unstemmed | Gender, Shame, and Social Support in LGBTQI+ Exposed to Discrimination: A Model for Understanding the Impact on Mental Health |
| title_short | Gender, Shame, and Social Support in LGBTQI+ Exposed to Discrimination: A Model for Understanding the Impact on Mental Health |
| title_sort | gender shame and social support in lgbtqi exposed to discrimination a model for understanding the impact on mental health |
| topic | gender-based violence discrimination mental health LGBTQI+ shame social support |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/12/8/454 |
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