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Sexuality Research and Social Policy

Erschienen in:

24.09.2021

Generalized Anxiety Disorder Symptoms are Higher Among Same- and Both-Sex Attracted Individuals in a Large, International Sample

verfasst von: Eliza Passell, Lauren A. Rutter, Jack L. Turban, Luke Scheuer, Niels Wright, Laura Germine

Erschienen in: Sexuality Research and Social Policy | Ausgabe 4/2022

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Abstract

Introduction

This study examines the severity of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) symptoms among sexual minorities in a large international sample and analyzes the relationship between GAD symptoms and two nation-level policies discriminating against sexual minorities: marriage inequality and criminalization of same-sex sex acts. Members of sexual minorities show higher rates of GAD. Structural stigma may contribute to poor mental health outcomes among sexual minorities.

Methods

We collected GAD symptoms in a sample of 5,929 participants from countries with differing policies restricting the rights of sexual minorities between May 2018 and October 2018. We then used mixed effects regression to examine the effects of sexual orientation and structural stigma (marriage inequality and criminalization of same-sex sex acts) on GAD symptoms.

Results

Participants reporting same-sex and both-sex attraction showed more anxiety symptoms than participants reporting opposite-sex attraction. There was no significant interaction effect between marriage inequality or criminalization of same-sex sex acts and sexual orientation on GAD symptoms.

Discussion

The higher measured anxiety among sexual minority participants is consistent with previous research; however, the absence of an interaction effect between sexual orientation and discriminatory policies was contrary to our predictions. We hypothesize that this could be due to differential concealment of sexual orientation due to structural stigma or the effects of stigma and discrimination outside of policy.

Policy Implications

These findings suggest that changing discriminatory policies may not be sufficient to improve mental health outcomes among sexual minorities; instead, it may be necessary to address sources of stigma beyond direct legal policies.

Vorheriger Artikel “…Everybody Else Is More Privileged. Then It’s Us…”: a Qualitative Study Exploring Community Responses to Social Determinants of Health Inequities and Intersectional Exclusion Among Trans Women of Color in Detroit, Michigan

Nächster Artikel “I Don’t Even Want to Come Out”: the Suppressed Voices of Our Future and Opening the Lid on Sexual and Gender Minority Youth Workplace Discrimination in Europe: a Qualitative Study

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Titel: Generalized Anxiety Disorder Symptoms are Higher Among Same- and Both-Sex Attracted Individuals in a Large, International Sample
verfasst von: Eliza Passell
Lauren A. Rutter
Jack L. Turban
Luke Scheuer
Niels Wright
Laura Germine
Publikationsdatum: 24.09.2021
Verlag: Springer US
Erschienen in: Sexuality Research and Social Policy / Ausgabe 4/2022
Print ISSN: 1868-9884
Elektronische ISSN: 1553-6610
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13178-021-00637-z

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Abstract

Introduction

Methods

Results

Discussion

Policy Implications

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