Relationships of familial sexual stigma and family support with internalized homonegativity among lesbian, gay and bisexual individuals: The mediating effect of self-identity disturbance and moderating effect of gender

Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Wellbeing of LGBTQ+ Individuals in Moldova: A Mixed Methods Analysis

Research on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic for LGBTQ+ people is limited, particularly in eastern Europe. This mixed methods study explored the direct and indirect effects of the pandemic on the mental and physical wellbeing of LGBTQ+ individuals in Moldova. From June to the end of July 2022, 86 surveys and 12 interviews were completed by self-identified LGBTQ+ adults in Moldova. Survey data were analyzed with descriptive statistics and interviews were coded and analyzed using the grounded theory methodology. The two data sets were interpreted concurrently to identify emergent themes. Overall, data suggest LGBTQ+ people experienced both negative and positive effects on their mental wellbeing due to the pandemic. Participants expressed feelings of anxiety, loneliness, and depression, and an inability to be their authentic selves. Conversely, participants had more capacity to explore their identities and they demonstrated social support within the LGBTQ+ community. Regarding physical impacts, there were interruptions to transgender medical care and concerns about housing affordability. Findings highlight the unique impacts of the pandemic on LGBTQ+ people and stress the importance of further research in this area and policies and plans to address the needs of LGBTQ+ people in response to the pandemic and future health crises.

Predictors of depressive and anxiety symptoms among lesbian, gay and bisexual young adult individuals experiencing the COVID-19 pandemic: A four-year follow-up study

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

Depressive and anxiety symptoms were common among lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic. This 4-year follow-up study was conducted to investigate the predictors of depressive and anxiety symptoms in Taiwan's young adult LGB population.

METHODS

Baseline data, including depressive and anxiety symptoms, demographic characteristics, sexual stigma, self-identity confusion, and family support were collected from 1000 LGB individuals. The participants' depressive and anxiety symptoms were reassessed 4 years after the baseline measurements. The predictive effects of the baseline factors on depressive and anxiety symptoms at follow-up were examined through linear regression analysis.

RESULTS

Greater lack of identity, unconsolidated identity, sexual orientation microaggression, and lower perceived family function at baseline were significantly associated with more severe depressive and anxiety symptoms at follow-up. After adjustment for baseline depressive symptoms, being men, greater lack of identity, lower perceived family function, and more severe anxiety symptoms at baseline were significantly associated with more severe depressive symptoms at follow-up. After adjustment for baseline anxiety symptoms, greater unconsolidated identity and more severe depressive symptoms at baseline were significantly associated with more severe anxiety symptoms at follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

Intervention aimed at reducing depressive and anxiety symptoms in LGB individuals should be developed considering the predictors identified in this study.

A 4-year prospective investigation of predictive effects of prepandemic sexual stigma, affective symptoms, and family support on fear of COVID-19 among lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals

Aim

This prospective study examined whether prepandemic sexual stigma, affective symptoms, and family support can predict fear of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) among lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals.

Methods

Data of 1,000 LGB individual on prepandemic sociodemographic characteristics, sexual stigma (familial sexual stigma [FSS] measured by the Homosexuality-Related Stigma Scale, internalized sexual stigma [ISS] measured by the Measure of Internalized Sexual Stigma for Lesbians and Gay Men, and sexual orientation microaggression [SOM] measured by the Sexual Orientation Microaggression Inventory), affective symptoms (i.e., depression measured by the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale and anxiety measured by the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-State version), and family support measured by the Adaptability, Partnership, Growth, Affection, and Resolve Index were collected. Four years later, the fear of COVID-19 was assessed using the Fear of COVID-19 Scale and the associations of prepandemic sexual stigma, affective symptoms, and perceived family support on fear of COVID-19 4 years later were analyzed using multiple linear regression analysis.

Results

In total, 670 (67.3%) participants agreed and completed the follow-up assessment. Greater prepandemic FSS, ISS, SOM, affective symptoms, and perceived family support were significantly associated with a greater fear of COVID-19 at follow-up.

Conclusion

The identified predictors should be considered when designing interventions aimed at preventing and reducing the fear of COVID-19 in LGB individuals.

Predictors of problematic smartphone use among young adult lesbian, gay and bisexual individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic: a four-year follow-up study

BACKGROUND

This 4-year follow-up study was conducted to evaluate the predictive effects of prepandemic individual and environmental factors on problematic smartphone use (PSU) among young adult lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS

Data on prepandemic PSU, demographics, sexual stigma (e.g., perceived sexual stigma from family members, internalized sexual stigma, and sexual microaggression), self-identity confusion (e.g., disturbed identity, unconsolidated identity, and lack of identity), anxiety, depression, and family support were collected from 1,000 LGB individuals between August 2018 and June 2019. The participants' PSU was surveyed again after 4 years (between August 2022 and June 2023). The associations of prepandemic individual and environmental factors with PSU at follow-up were analyzed through linear regression.

RESULTS

In total, 673 (67.3%) participants completed the follow-up assessment. The severity of PSU significantly decreased after 4 years (p = .001). Before the incorporation of PSU at baseline into the analysis model, the results of the model revealed that high levels depressive symptoms (p < .001), disturbed identity (p < .001), and perceived sexual stigma from family members (p = .025) at baseline were significantly associated with PSU at follow-up. After the incorporation of PSU at baseline into the analysis model, the results of the model revealed that high levels PSU (p < .001) and depressive symptoms (p = .002) at baseline were significantly associated with PSU at follow-up.

CONCLUSION

Interventions aimed at reducing the severity of PSU among LGB individuals should be designed considering the predictors identified in our study.

Sexual stigmas among lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals with problematic internet use and depression

Introduction

Sexual stigma causes psychological distress among lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals. LGB individuals are more likely to exhibit both problematic Internet use (PIU) and significant depression than are heterosexual individuals. Whether the severities of sexual stigma varied among LGB individuals with various statuses of comorbid PIU and depression warrants study. The present study aimed to investigate the differences in the experiences of familial sexual stigma (FSS), internalized sexual stigma (ISS), and sexual orientation microaggressions (SOMs) among LGB individuals with various statuses of comorbid PIU and depression.

Methods

In total, 1,000 self-identified LGB young adult individuals participated in the study. The level of PIU was assessed using the Chen Internet Addiction Scale, depression was assessed using the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale, the experience of FSS was assessed using the Homosexuality-Related Stigma Scale, the experience of ISS was assessed using the Measure of Internalized Sexual Stigma for Lesbians and Gay Men, and the experience of sexual orientation microaggression was assessed using the Sexual Orientation Microaggression Inventory. The differences in the levels of FSS, ISS, and SOMs among the four groups [i.e., the groups with both PIU and depression (comorbid group), only depression, only PIU, and neither PIU nor depression (neither group)] were investigated using multivariate analysis of covariance.

Results

The results indicated that LGB individuals with comorbid PIU and depression reported higher levels of ISS and SOMs than did those with depression only and PIU only, respectively. Moreover, LGB individuals with PIU or significant depression had higher levels of FSS and SOMs than did those with neither PIU nor depression.

Discussion

The results of this study supported that the experiences of FSS, ISS, and SOMs were significantly associated with various levels of PIU and depression in LGB individuals.