scholarly journals Psychosocial Impacts of COVID-19 Pandemic on Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual People Living in Portugal and Brazil—A Qualitative Study

2021 ◽  
pp. 263183182110174
Author(s):  
Henrique Pereira ◽  
Jéssica Pedro ◽  
Cindy Mendes ◽  
Mariana Duarte ◽  
Patrícia G Silva

Introduction: Not many studies have been reported from Portugal or Brazil to date, reading the psychosocial impacts of COVID-19 on lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) people, especially from a qualitative perspective. Materials and Methods: A convenience sample of 65 self-identified LGB individuals from Portugal and Brazil participated in this study. Thirty-two participants were from Portugal and 33 from Brazil. The average age was 34.48 years (standard deviation = 11.66), ranging from 19 to 67. We used an online interview approach in an asynchronous format. All study respondents completed a structured inquiry consisting of a short section of sociodemographic questions and a single open-ended question: “As a lesbian, gay, bisexual (or other) self-identified person, please elaborate on how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted your life.” Results: The thematic analysis of participants’ responses revealed 9 recurring themes, encompassing 18 subcategories to occur: mental health (depression, anxiety, fear, anger, and loneliness), isolation (social distancing and leisure impediments), relationships (family and friends), work-related problems, education-related problems, financial problems, changes (behavioral changes and opportunity to grow), coping (seeking support, accessing information and physical activities), and LGBTQI topics (health barriers, going back into the closet, pride celebration events, and online dating). Conclusions: Our results provide voice to LGB Portuguese and Brazilian people during the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrating specific challenges exacerbated by stigma and sexual discrimination amplified by preexistent social inequalities.

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susanna Toivanen

In adult life, many of the social determinants of health are connected to working life. Yet, our knowledge of the role of work-related factors for the risk of stroke is fairly limited. In contemporary occupational health research, the Demand-Control Model (DCM) is frequently used to measure work stress. Previous literature reviews of the association of work stress and cardiovascular disease (CVD) do not include stroke as a specific outcome. Results regarding work stress and the risk of CVD are less evident in working women. With the focus on working women, the purpose of the present paper was to review the current research into the DCM in relation to stroke and to scrutinize potential gender differences. A literature search was performed and eight studies from three countries were identified. Based on the reviewed studies, there is some evidence that high psychological demands, low job control, and job strain are associated with increased stroke risk in women as well as in men. Any major reduction in deaths and disability from stroke is likely to come from decreasing social inequalities in health, and reducing work stress has a potential to contribute to a reduced risk of stroke in working populations.


2007 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Barnes ◽  
J. Birch ◽  
M. M. Cloete ◽  
L. Joubert ◽  
A. C. Usher ◽  
...  

Physiotherapy practice involves the performance of strenuous physical activities related to the delivery of patient rehabilitation.  No evidence of studies relating to physiotherapy work-related low back pain (WRLBP) in South Africa could be found.  The aims of this study were to retrospectively investigate the incidence of work related low back pain among currently practicing physiotherapists in Bloemfontein, to determine the contributing risk factors, and to determine the responses of the physiotherapists to injury. Eighty four physiotherapists participated in this descriptive study. The results indicated that 67% of respondents had experienced work related low back pain and the 95% confidence interval for the incidence of WRLBP among physiotherapists in Bloemfontein is [56.8%; 76.6%].  Therapists performing cardio-thoracic related tasks had the most significant confidence interval of WRLBP [2.2%; 35.1%]. Fifty eight percent of respondents who had WRLBP reported that their symptoms were exacerbated by clinical practice.  The results of the study suggest that it is the nature of the job design which predisposes physiotherapists to injury and not a lack of kinetic handling knowledge. Further research is needed to develop methods to reduce the risks of WRLBP which are inherently part of physio-therapy practice.


2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (32) ◽  
pp. 182
Author(s):  
Steve Hunt ◽  
Elena Hunt

Historically, sexuality had been considered a fundamental, biologically determined characteristic of humans. Lately, better protection of human rights and recognition of non-traditional relationships have been leading to acceptance towards gay, transgendered and bisexual people. Nonetheless, little advancement has been made into fully understanding the intricacies of human sexuality and recent research has found that sexuality may not be fixed after all; instead, it appears to be more variable and fluid. This integrative review on sexual fluidity has drawn four discussed themes: Sexuality as a Continuum, Sexual Fluidity of Women, Sexual Agency and Hetero/Homosexuality Binary of Men. Several questions call for more research into understanding sexual fluidity across the lifespan and the development of initiatives to help individuals to both understand and accept this trait. Furthermore, advocacy is needed to ensure equal rights and freedoms without discrimination, both socially and economically.


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