The Internalized Homophobia Scale for Vietnamese Sexual Minority Women: Conceptualization, Factor Structure, Reliability, and Associations With Hypothesized Correlates

On the Link Between Reciprocal/Authoritarian Filial Piety and Internalized Homonegativity: Perceived Pressure to Get Married in a Heterosexual Marriage as a Mediator

Previous research has revealed that filial piety belief plays a critical role in self-acceptance of sexual orientation, but studies have rarely examined whether and how reciprocal (i.e., providing care and support based on affective bonding) and authoritarian (i.e., showing unconditional obedience to parents because of parental authority) filial piety contribute to internalized homonegativity. A total of 477 Chinese lesbian, gay, bisexual, questioning/queer, or other non-heterosexual (LGBQ +) adults participated in this study. These participants completed a battery of measures for reciprocal and authoritarian filial piety, perceived internalized, social, and parental pressure to get married in a heterosexual marriage, internalized heteronormativity, socially oriented identity (i.e., negative beliefs about how others in society would negatively treat them because of their sexual orientation), and family-oriented identity (e.g., guilt related to filial piety and worries about present and future life). The results indicated that higher reciprocal filial piety was directly associated with higher internalized heteronormativity. Higher authoritarian filial piety had a direct link with higher family-oriented identity. In addition, authoritarian filial piety was positively associated with internalized heteronormativity through internalized pressure to get married; authoritarian filial piety had a positive link with socially oriented identity through perceived social pressure to get married; authoritarian filial piety was positively related to family-oriented identity through perceived parental pressure to get married. Conclusions: Authoritarian filial piety is a risk factor for internalized homonegativity, and perceived pressure to get married in a heterosexual marriage might be the underlying mechanism for the relationship between authoritarian filial piety and internalized homonegativity.

Internalized Sexual Stigma among Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Individuals in Taiwan: Its Related Factors and Association with Mental Health Problems

Internalized sexual stigma (ISS) is one of the major issues that can compromise the health of sexual minority populations. This quantitative study aimed to examine: (1) the relationships of individual factors (gender, age, education level, sexual orientation, and age of identification of sexual orientation) and perceived family support with ISS; and (2) the associations of ISS with mood problems and the moderating effects of gender on the associations among Taiwanese young adult lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals. In total, 500 male and 500 female young adult LGB individuals aged between 20 and 30 years participated in this study. The experience of ISS, individual (e.g., gender, age, education level, sexual orientation, and age of identification of sexual orientation) and environmental factors (perceived family), mood problems (e.g., anxiety and depression) were collected. The individual and environmental factors related to ISS and the associations of ISS with mood problems were examined using multivariate linear regression analysis. The results indicated that gender, sexual orientation, age of identification of sexual orientation, and perceived family support were significantly associated with all or some dimensions of ISS in LGB individuals. Various dimensions of ISS had different relationships with anxiety and depression. Gender had moderating effects on the association between the identity dimension of ISS and sexual orientation as well as between the social discomfort dimension of ISS and anxiety. Various dimensions of ISS among LGB individuals should be routinely assessed by mental health service units. Intervention programs should be provided for LGB individuals, especially those with factors related to ISS.

Mental Health Challenges and Needs among Sexual and Gender Minority People in Western Kenya

Background: Sexual and gender minority (SGM) people in Kenya face pervasive socio-cultural and structural discrimination. Persistent stress stemming from anti-SGM stigma and prejudice may place SGM individuals at increased risk for negative mental health outcomes. This study explored experiences with violence (intimate partner violence and SGM-based violence), mental health outcomes (psychological distress, PTSD symptoms, and depressive symptoms), alcohol and other substance use, and prioritization of community needs among SGM adults in Western Kenya. Methods: This study was conducted by members of a collaborative research partnership between a U.S. academic institution and a Kenyan LGBTQ civil society organization (CSO). A convenience sample of 527 SGM adults (92.7% ages 18-34) was recruited from community venues to complete a cross-sectional survey either on paper or through an online secure platform. Results: For comparative analytic purposes, three sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) groups were created: (1) cisgender sexual minority women (SMW; 24.9%), (2) cisgender sexual minority men (SMM; 63.8%), and (3) gender minority individuals (GMI; 11.4%). Overall, 11.7% of participants reported clinically significant levels of psychological distress, 53.2% reported clinically significant levels of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, and 26.1% reported clinically significant levels of depressive symptoms. No statistically significant differences in clinical levels of these mental health concerns were detected across SOGI groups. Overall, 76.2% of participants reported ever using alcohol, 45.6% home brew, 43.5% tobacco, 39.1% marijuana, and 27.7% miraa or khat. Statistically significant SOGI group differences on potentially problematic substance use revealed that GMI participants were less likely to use alcohol and tobacco daily; and SMM participants were more likely to use marijuana daily. Lifetime intimate partner violence (IPV) was reported by 42.5% of participants, and lifetime SGM-based violence (SGMV) was reported by 43.4%. GMI participants were more likely than other SOGI groups to have experienced both IPV and SGMV. Participants who experienced SGMV had significantly higher rates of clinically significant depressive and PTSD symptoms. Conclusions: Despite current resilience demonstrated by SGM adults in Kenya, there is an urgent need to develop and deliver culturally appropriate mental health services for this population. Given the pervasiveness of anti-SGM violence, services should be provided using trauma-informed principles, and be sensitive to the lived experiences of SGM adults in Kenya. Community and policy levels interventions are needed to decrease SGM-based stigma and violence, increase SGM visibility and acceptance, and create safe and affirming venues for mental health care. Political prioritization of SGM mental health is needed for sustainable change.

Sexual self-disclosure, internalized homophobia and depression symptoms among sexual minority women in Vietnam

This study used an online survey of a sample of sexual minority Vietnamese women (N = 302, Mean = 21.23) who self-identified as lesbian (48.7%), bisexual (42.2%), and other (8.9%). The purpose of the study was to examine the relationship among self-disclosure, internalized homophobia, and symptoms of depression. This topic has never before been studied in Vietnam. Structural equation modeling indicates that a higher level of self-disclosure with friends and coworkers leads to less self-stigmatization and less sexual prejudice. In addition, sexual minority women’s self-disclosure affects all three aspects of depression (negative affect, positive affect, and interpersonal relationships).

Does Socio-structural Context Matter? A Multilevel Test of Sexual Minority Stigma and Depressive Symptoms in Four Asia-Pacific Countries

In the Asia-Pacific region, individual sexual stigma contributes to elevated rates of depression among sexual minority men. Less well understood is the role of socio-structural sexual stigma despite evidence that social context influences the experience of stigma. We use data from the United Nations Multi-country Study on Men and Violence to conduct a multilevel test of associations between individual- and cluster unit-level indicators of sexual stigma and depressive symptoms among sexual minority men (n = 562). In the full model, individual-level sexual stigma is not associated with depressive symptoms, although there is significant variation in the association between individual stigma and depressive symptoms across clusters. Contrary to expectation, at the community level, homophobic injunctive norms are negatively associated with depressive symptoms. We discuss the implications for policies, programs, and future research to improve mental health among sexual minority men in the region.

RMSEA, CFI, and TLI in structural equation modeling with ordered categorical data: The story they tell depends on the estimation methods

In structural equation modeling, application of the root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA), comparative fit index (CFI), and Tucker-Lewis index (TLI) highly relies on the conventional cutoff values developed under normal-theory maximum likelihood (ML) with continuous data. For ordered categorical data, unweighted least squares (ULS) and diagonally weighted least squares (DWLS) based on polychoric correlation matrices have been recommended in previous studies. Although no clear suggestions exist regarding the application of these fit indices when analyzing ordered categorical variables, practitioners are still tempted to adopt the conventional cutoff rules. The purpose of our research was to answer the question: Given a population polychoric correlation matrix and a hypothesized model, if ML results in a specific RMSEA value (e.g., .08), what is the RMSEA value when ULS or DWLS is applied? CFI and TLI were investigated in the same fashion. Both simulated and empirical polychoric correlation matrices with various degrees of model misspecification were employed to address the above question. The results showed that DWLS and ULS lead to smaller RMSEA and larger CFI and TLI values than does ML for all manipulated conditions, regardless of whether or not the indices are scaled. Applying the conventional cutoffs to DWLS and ULS, therefore, has a pronounced tendency not to discover model-data misfit. Discussions regarding the use of RMSEA, CFI, and TLI for ordered categorical data are given.

Validity Evidences of the Internalized Homophobia Scale for Brazilian Gays and Lesbians

Abstract This article gathered evidence of the validity of the Internalized Homophobia Scale (EHI) for Brazilian gays and lesbians. Study 1 found evidence of content validity (performed by two area judges and 10 gay and lesbian people), based on the internal structure and still sought reliability/precision indicators of the instrument. Based on an online survey, 261 participants, with a mean age of 27.6 years (SD = 7.72), answered IHS and sociodemographic questions. Study 2 replicated the factorial solution from study 1, through confirmatory factorial analysis, in addition to seeking complementary evidence of construct validity and reliability, being carried out with 303 gays and lesbians, with a mean age of 30.6 years (SD = 8.29). The results of the two studies suggest a modified version of the IHS with 19 items and two dimensions (Internal Perception of Stigma and Perception [α = 0,814] of Social Oppression [α = 0,622]) because it presented evidence of validity and reliability/precision of the instrument.

Internalized Homophobia Scale for Gay Chinese Men: Conceptualization, Factor Structure, Reliability, and Associations With Hypothesized Correlates

This study reports the development of an inventory to assess the perceived internalized homophobia of gay men in a collectivistic Chinese cultural context. The results of exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses using two samples suggested the viability and stability of a three-factor model: internalized heteronormativity (IHN), family-oriented identity (FOI), and socially oriented identity (SOI). The 11-item internalized homophobia inventory demonstrated good internal consistency and construct validity. Internalized homophobia was related positively to the extent of a sense of loneliness and negatively to self-evaluation and the discrepancy in self-identification as a gay man. In addition, the participants’ internalized SOI consistently predicted their coming out choices in their social surroundings, while their FOI predicted their decisions to enter into heterosexual marriages. The findings suggest that sexual self-prejudice was correlated with IHN, family values, and social norms. The present research demonstrates that a culturally sensitive scale is necessary to understand the cultural and family-oriented values that influence gay Chinese men’s everyday lives, self-constructs, and behavioral choices.