Sexual Orientation, Mental Health Characteristics, and Self-Care in Professional Psychology Training and Employment

Abstract

Although self-care practice is critical for mental healthcare professionals (MHP) to buffer against the impact of stressors and to prevent psychiatric symptoms and functional impairment, effective self-care may be more difficult for those at greater risk of developing mental health conditions due to sexual minority stress. The present study aimed to examine mental health characteristics, engagement in, and value obtained from self-care, and perceptions about training programs’ encouragement of self-care in trainees and professionals of different sexual orientations. Data were collected from MHP trainees and practitioners (n = 547) using an anonymous online survey including measures assessing stress, depression, anxiety, resilience, coping self-efficacy, and self-care strategy usage. Analyses revealed that bisexual individuals reported significantly greater mental health symptoms and self-care strategy usage as compared to heterosexual and gay/lesbian participants. Analyses also revealed lower levels of daily functioning and resilience in bisexual vs. heterosexual or gay/lesbian participants, and that bisexual participants reported obtaining less value from self-care practices than other subgroups. These results suggest that bisexual individuals may experience a unique set of minority stressors which affect their engagement with and benefit from self-care. Implications and suggestions for promoting inclusiveness and positive alterations in self-care engagement in training programs and professional institutions are discussed, including engendering coping self-efficacy through individual skill development, nurturing environments that reinforce self-care, ensuring access to culturally competent services, and promoting engagement in supportive groups and organizations.