Gay and Lesbian Asylum Seekers in the United States: The Interplay of Sexual Orientation Identity Development, Reverse-Covering, and Mental Health

2018 ◽  
pp. 209-225
Author(s):  
Kateri Berasi
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
United States ◽  
Sexual Orientation ◽  
Identity Development ◽  
Asylum Seekers ◽  
The United States ◽  
Gay And Lesbian ◽  
Sexual Orientation Identity

scholarly journals An Analysis of the Impact of Sexual Orientation on Longitudinal Depression

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 900-900
Author(s):  
Anna Thompson ◽  
Britney Wardecker
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
United States ◽  
Sexual Orientation ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The United States ◽  
Repeated Measures Anova ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Health And Well Being ◽  
Over Time

Abstract Research suggests that mental health and well-being improve as we age, and this trend is dubbed “the paradox of aging” (Charles & Carstensen, 2010). However, little is known about whether this trend happens for individuals who may experience lifelong disadvantage, such as those who identify as lesbian, gay, or bisexual. We used data from the Midlife in the United States Study (MIDUS) to examine lesbian/gay, bisexual, and heterosexual adults’ changes in depression from 1995 to 2014. Participants identified as lesbian/gay (n = 46), bisexual (n = 37), and heterosexual (n = 3030) and 45.1% identified as female. Participants’ ages ranged from 20-74 years (M = 45.61, SD = 11.41) in 1995 and 39-93 years (M = 63.64, SD = 11.35) in 2014. We analyzed our data using a repeated measures ANOVA and our results indicate that depression decreased on average from 1995 to 2014 for heterosexual [Wilk’s Lamda = .996, F (1, 3029) = 12.23, p < .001] and lesbian/gay adults [Wilk’s Lamda = .848, F (1, 45) = 8.08, p = .007]. However, bisexual adults did not experience this decrease in depression [Wilk’s Lamda = .990, F (1, 36) = 0.36, p = .550] and their depression remained relatively stable. Our results are consistent with previous studies that indicate bisexuals experience poorer mental health when compared to lesbian/gay and heterosexual adults (Bostwick, Hughes, & Everett, 2015). The current research highlights depression as a condition that may not decrease universally over time. We discuss implications for bisexuals’ health and well-being.

scholarly journals Sexual assault, sense of belonging, depression and suicidality among LGBQ college students

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
I Backhaus ◽  
S K. Lipson ◽  
L B. Fisher ◽  
I Kawachi ◽  
P Pedrelli
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
United States ◽  
College Students ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Sexual Orientation ◽  
Suicidal Ideation ◽  
Sexual Assault ◽  
Sense Of Belonging ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
The United States

Abstract Background There has been growing concern about the poor mental health of college student of gay, lesbian, bisexual, or questioning/queer (LGBQ) sexual orientation. Factors believed to negatively influence LGBQ student's health include discrimination and victimization such as sexual assault, whereas factors believed to positively influence mental health include cohesiveness and a sense of belonging. Little is known about how these might interact with each other. Therefore, the objective of this study was to compare the effect of sexual orientation, history of sexual assault and sense of belonging on depression and suicidality among LGBQ and heterosexual students. Methods This is a secondary data analysis using a subset of available data from the 2017-2018 Healthy Minds Study dataset. The dataset was encompassed of self-report data from about 60,200 college students across 60 campuses in the United States. Descriptive statistics and three-way interaction analysis using PROCESS macro models in SPSS were performed. Results Students identifying as LGBQ reported more frequently to have experienced sexual assault, to suffer from depressive symptoms and to have suicidal thoughts than heterosexual students. Significant three-way interaction effects were found for sexual orientation, sexual assault and sense of belonging predicting depressive symptoms (b= -.06, p= .042, CI: -.12; -.00), and suicidality (b= -.10, p= .004, CI: -.01; -.003). The effect of sexual assault on mental health differed depending on sexual orientation and sense of belonging. Particularly among LGBQ students, high sense of belonging was protective in the presence of sexual assault, and its absence had a deleterious effect on mental health. Conclusions There is a need to reduce mental health problems and sexual assault on college campuses and to foster a sense of belonging. Enhancing sense of belonging may represent a strategy to mitigate depression and suicidality, particularly among LGBQ students. Key messages Mental health problems such as depression and suicidal ideation among sexual minority students remain highly prevalent in the United States. Increasing sense of belonging may moderate symptoms such as depressiveness and suicidal ideation.

Mental health services providers' distribution across counties in the United States.

1984 ◽  
Vol 39 (12) ◽  
pp. 1424-1434 ◽  
Author(s):  
David J. Knesper ◽  
John R. Wheeler ◽  
David J. Pagnucco
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
United States ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
The United States
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