Sample Of Lesbians Research Articles

Experiences With Physical and Emotional Sibling Violence in Childhood and Adult Attachment in a Sample of Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Individuals

To the best of our knowledge, no research has been conducted specifically examining the influence of physical and emotional sibling violence on adult attachment in lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals. To address this gap, we conducted an exploratory research study using survey methods and asked a sample of 150 participants about their experiences with physical and emotional sibling violence in childhood and attachment in close relationships in adulthood. We found an association between physical and emotional sibling violence and closeness to and dependency on others in adulthood, but no association with fear of abandonment and rejection by others. Implications include the need for psychoeducation and for practitioners to assess for physical and emotional sibling violence when working with individuals and families with members who identify as lesbian, gay, or bisexual.

Exploring the Relationships Between Transdiagnostic Factors and Eating Disorder Symptomology in a Clinical Sample of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Questioning, Queer, Asexual, and Pansexual Clients

Exploring the Relationships Between Transdiagnostic Factors and Eating Disorder Symptomology in a Clinical Sample of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Questioning, Queer, Asexual, and Pansexual Clients

Virginity beliefs in lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals experiencing same- and different-sex “first” times

The purpose of the current study was to explore first sex experiences in lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals (LGB) using the Virginity Beliefs Framework ( Carpenter, 2001 ; Humphreys, 2013 ; Eriksson & Humphreys, 2014 ). The specific focus was on LGB individuals who have had both a sexual experience with a member of a different sex and a member of the same sex. This phenomenon is what the current study is defining as second virginity loss. Participants consisted of 275 self-identified LGB individuals; the sample was approximately half women (57%) between the ages of 18 and 56. Further, six semi-structured interviews were conducted to gain a clearer understanding of LGB individuals first sex experiences. Two primary research questions were proposed: (1) how do the virginity belief frames map onto the two “first” sexual experiences of LGB individuals? and (2) are there differences in the virginity belief frames between the two “first” times? Results found that LGB individuals hold stronger process beliefs than gift or stigma beliefs for both of their “first” times. The qualitative interviews suggested that the process of understanding virginity was enmeshed with a larger exploration, and eventual validation, of sexual identity. There was also a significant drop in the strength of some of the gift, process, and stigma beliefs from different-sex experience to same-sex experience for many in the gay and bisexual samples, but not in the lesbian sample. The current study is the first to explore the phenomenon of second virginity loss in LGB individuals and could be used as a foundation for future research on LGB first sexual experiences.

Supplemental Material for Changes in Disclosure Stress and Depression Symptoms in a Sample of Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Youth

Supplemental Material for Changes in Disclosure Stress and Depression Symptoms in a Sample of Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Youth

The Role of Masculinity and Femininity in Body Objectification: Comparison of Heterosexual and Gay Communities

Drawing on objectification theory, we investigated associations among age, gender-typed traits (masculinity, femininity), community involvement (gay and lesbian sample), and body objectification (body surveillance and body shame) in gay men, lesbians, and heterosexual men and women. Our sample included 390 participants from university and community settings. A total of 82 gay men, 62 lesbians, 82 heterosexual men, and 164 heterosexual women, M age = 23.06 years (range 18–62), completed a measure to assess body surveillance and body shame and masculinity and femininity. Additionally, the lesbian and gay participants completed an assessment to measure LGBT community involvement. Controlling for age, results were significant for the femininity × masculinity interaction on body surveillance for gay men and lesbians, and masculine gender-typed traits for heterosexual women. Masculinity also was a significant predictor of body shame for lesbians. LGBT community involvement was non-significant for both gay men and lesbians. Our findings are consistent with objectification theory and highlight the importance of examining the complexities of gender (e.g., interaction between masculinity and femininity) and sexual orientation when body objectification is investigated.

Predictors of User Engagement With Facebook Posts Generated by a National Sample of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Community Centers in the United States: Content Analysis.

BackgroundLesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) community centers remain important venues for reaching and providing crucial health and social services to LGBTQ individuals in the United States. These organizations commonly use Facebook to reach their target audiences, but little is known about factors associated with user engagement with their social media presence.ObjectiveThis study aimed to identify factors associated with engagement with Facebook content generated by LGBTQ community centers in the United States.MethodsContent generated by LGBTQ community centers in 2017 was downloaded using Facebook’s application programming interface. Posts were classified by their content and sentiment. Correlates of user engagement were identified using negative binomial regression.ResultsA total of 32,014 posts from 175 community centers were collected. Posts with photos (incidence rate ratio, [IRR] 1.07; 95% CI 1.06-1.09) and videos (IRR 1.54; 95% CI 1.52-1.56) that contained a direct invitation for engagement (IRR 1.03; 95% CI 1.02-1.04), that expressed a positive sentiment (IRR 1.11; 95% CI 1.10-1.12), and that contained content related to stigma (IRR 1.16; 95% CI 1.14-1.17), mental health (IRR 1.33; 95% CI 1.31-1.35), and politics (IRR 1.28; 95% CI 1.27-1.29) received higher levels of engagement.ConclusionsThe results of this study provide support for the use of Facebook to extend the reach of LGBTQ community centers and highlight multiple factors that can be leveraged to optimize engagement.

Cigarette smoking, ENDS use and dual use among a national sample of lesbians, gays and bisexuals.

INTRODUCTIONHistorically, lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) individuals have higher rates of cigarette smoking, often attributed to targeted tobacco advertising, exposure to stressors, and psychological distress. Elevated use of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) among LGB individuals has been documented recently. However, the LGB groups are not homogeneous and differences may exist between the use of tobacco by men and women within the LGB groups. The purpose of this research was to examine cigarette smoking, ENDS use and dual use (cigarettes plus ENDS) among LGB subgroups.METHODSWe classified 2087 participants completing a national online survey based on tobacco-use status (i.e. cigarette only, ENDS only, dual use) and sexual orientation. Multinomial logistic regression was employed to assess group differences.RESULTSAfter adjusting for demographics and socioeconomic status, bisexual women were 1.85 times (95% CI: 1.19–2.87) more likely to report current dual use, in contrast to cigarette only use, compared to heterosexual women. No significant differences were found between lesbian and heterosexual women, or between gay or bisexual men and their heterosexual counterparts.CONCLUSIONSThis study describes significantly greater dual use by bisexual women and is one of the first reports of elevated dual use in this group compared to heterosexual women. These findings suggest that targeted health messages may be needed to raise awareness of risk in specific LGB groups and that future research with these populations is necessary to better understand differences in tobacco perceptions and use.

Improving pathways to primary health care among LGBTQ populations and health care providers: key findings from Nova Scotia, Canada

BackgroundThis study explores the perceived barriers to primary health care as identified among a sample of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) identified individuals and health care providers in Nova Scotia, Canada. These findings, based on a province-wide anonymous online survey, suggest that additional efforts are needed to improve pathways to primary health among LGBTQ populations and in deepening our understanding of how to advance the unique primary health needs of these populations.MethodsData were collected from the LGBTQ community through an online, closed-ended anonymous survey. Inclusion criteria for participation were self-identifying as LGBTQ, offering primary health care to LGBTQ patients, being able to understand English, being 16 years of age or older, and having lived in Nova Scotia for at least one year. A total of 283 LGBTQ respondents completed the online survey which included sociodemographic questions, perceptions of respondents’ health status, and their primary health care experiences. In addition, a total of 109 health care providers completed the survey based on their experiences providing care in Nova Scotia, and in particular, their experiences and perceptions regarding LGBTQ access to primary health care and physician-patient interactions.ResultsOur results indicate that, in several key areas, the primary health care needs of LGBTQ populations in Nova Scotia are not being met and this may in turn contribute to their poor health outcomes across the life course.ConclusionA framework of intersectionality and health equity was used to interpret and analyze the survey data. The key findings indicate the need to continue improving pathways to primary health care among LGBTQ populations, specifically in relation to additional training and related supports for health care providers who work with these populations.

More Than a Feeling? An Empirical Analysis of the Dual-Continua Model on a National Sample of Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Identified Canadians

ABSTRACTThe goal of the study is to investigate whether positive mental health complements mental illness within a theoretically informed (the dual-continua model) and psychometrically tested (the Mental Health Continuum-Short Form) framework. National-level, population-based data from the 2012 Canadian Community Health Survey on Mental Health (CCHS-MH) was used, with comparisons between sexual minority and heterosexual adults. Results show that gay, lesbian, and bisexual Canadians have substantially lower rates of positive mental health and are more likely to have been diagnosed with a mental illness, with the disparities between health and illness being the most pronounced among lesbians and bisexual females. Results show considerable support for the dual-continua model, which posits that the absence of health does not automatically translate into the presence of illness, and vice versa. Suggestions are made for practitioners and researchers toward the use of the dual-continua model as a surveillance tool, especially among sexual minority individuals.

Sexual Orientation Effects on Relationship and Sexual Satisfaction According to Desire Discrepancy in Men

Sexual and relationship satisfaction appear to be negatively influenced by sexual desire discrepancies (Mark & Murray, 2012), more specifically when the discrepancy is perceived as problematic (Bridges & Horne, 2007). Nevertheless, sexual desire discrepancy has received little attention by sex researchers, with main focus on heterosexual or lesbian dyads (e.g. Bridges & Horne, 2007; Mark, 2012). Moreover, the role of problematic and non-problematic desire discrepancy was only assessed in a lesbian sample (Bridges & Horne, 2007). Concerning the gap on research, current study aims to assess differences on sexual and relationship satisfaction, in heterosexual and gay men, according to sexual desire discrepancy levels (no discrepancy, with non-problematic, and with problematic discrepancy), and to explore sexual orientation effects. Two-hundred and twenty-three men (126 heterosexual; 97 gay), with a mean age of 30.34 (SD=10.02), completed an online-survey. After giving informed consent, participants completed a set of measures assessing sociodemographic characteristics, desire discrepancy, sexual satisfaction (GMSEX; Lawrance & Byers, 1995) and relationship satisfaction (GMREL; Lawrance & Byers, 1995).

Flourishing among sexual minority individuals: Application of the dual continuum model of mental health in a sample of lesbians and gay men.

Flourishing among sexual minority individuals: Application of the dual continuum model of mental health in a sample of lesbians and gay men.

Jewish Women’s KIPPOT: Meanings and Motives

Considerable literature has examined the meanings associated with gender-normative religious head covering practices such as Muslim women’s hijabs, Jewish women’s sheitels and headscarves, and Jewish men’s kippot. However, very few studies have explored the meanings of Jewish women’s kippot. This article advances Amy Milligan’s ethnographic research on this matter through open-ended survey data from 576 Jewish women who wear kippot. Unlike Milligan’s lesbian sample, this largely heterosexual sample claims to wear the kippah for many of the same reasons that men do: to “do Jewish,” “feel Jewish,” “look Jewish,” and to display their status relative to other Jews. Respondents acknowledge that their kippah practice also signifies egalitarianism, but they emphasize that this is but one of the garment’s many meanings.

Incompetence Schemas and Sexual Functioning in Heterosexual and Lesbian Women: The Mediator Role of Automatic Thoughts and Affective States During Sexual Activity

Incompetence schemas, automatic thoughts and affective states have been described as maintenance factors for female sexual dysfunction. However, studies have been conducted only with heterosexual samples. Current study aims to analyze the mediator role of automatic thoughts and state affect during sexual activity in the relationship between incompetence schemas and sexual functioning, in women with different sexual orientations. Participants completed the Questionnaire of Cognitive Schemas Activation in Sexual Context, the Sexual Modes Questionnaire—Automatic Thoughts Subscale, the Positive Affect—Negative Affect Scale, and the Female Sexual Functioning Index. Seven-hundred and seventy-five women (593 heterosexuals; 182 lesbian) completed an online survey assessing cognitive factors and sexual functioning. Structural equation modeling was performed for both samples, separately. For the heterosexual sample, failure thoughts, lack of erotic thoughts, positive affect, and negative affect were found to be mediators. For the lesbian sample, sexual abuse thoughts, failure thoughts, lack of erotic thoughts, and positive affect were found to be mediators. Overall, failure thoughts, lack of erotic thoughts and positive affect during sexual activity significantly mediated the relationship between incompetence schemas and female sexual functioning. The findings support the cognitive model and emphasize the core role of cognitive and affective factors in predicting sexual functioning in both lesbian and heterosexual women.

System Justification’s Opposite Effects on Psychological Wellbeing: Testing a Moderated Mediation Model in a Gay Men and Lesbian Sample in Chile

ABSTRACTThose who adhere to system-justifying beliefs benefit from a palliative function that buffers negative effects on psychological wellbeing. This has been consistently observed for high-status groups, whereas for members of low-status groups, it remains rather unclear whether system justification exerts a positive or a negative effect. This study tested the palliative effect of system justification on symptoms of anxiety-depression in a gay men and lesbian sample (N = 467) in Chile. Results from moderated mediation analyses revealed that system justification beliefs buffer symptoms of anxiety and depression. However, system justification enhances anxious and depressive symptoms through internalized homonegativity; this mediation effect was significant for gay men. We pose that justifying the social order comprises two contradictory functions: system justification as a coping source and, otherwise, as a source of distress under conditions of in-group derogation, posing a threat to wellbeing among members of low-status groups (as observed in gay and lesbian individuals). Implications of the opposing effects and gender differences are further discussed in this study.

Comparison of Health Risks and Changes in Risks over Time Among a Sample of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Heterosexual Employees at a Large Firm.

The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of health risk factors by sexual orientation over a 4-year period within a sample of employees from a large firm. Propensity score-weighted generalized linear regression models were used to estimate the proportion of employees at high risk for health problems in each year and over time, controlling for many factors. Analyses were conducted with 6 study samples based on sex and sexual orientation. Rates of smoking, stress, and certain other health risk factors were higher for lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) employees compared with rates of these risks among straight employees. Lesbian, gay, and straight employees successfully reduced risk levels in many areas. Significant reductions were realized for the proportion at risk for high stress and low life satisfaction among gay and lesbian employees, and for the proportion of smokers among gay males. Comparing changes over time for sexual orientation groups versus other employee groups showed that improvements and reductions in risk levels for most health risk factors examined occurred at similar rates among individuals employed by this firm, regardless of sexual orientation. These results can help improve understanding of LGB health and provide information on where to focus workplace health promotion efforts to meet the health needs of LGB employees.

Minority stress and intimate partner violence perpetration among lesbians: Negative affect, hazardous drinking, and intrusiveness as mediators.

Lesbians report experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV) at rates greater than or equal to those reported by heterosexual women. However, relatively little is known about the underlying mechanisms contributing to IPV perpetration among lesbians. In the present study we tested a conceptual model of the relationship among general life stressors, sexual minority stressors, negative affect, hazardous alcohol use, interpersonal intrusiveness (i.e., possessiveness/jealousy, separation anxiety, emotional interreactivity), and physical assault perpetration. We hypothesized that stressors would be more distal factors associated with increased negative affect and alcohol use which would in turn be associated with more interpersonal intrusiveness and physical assault perpetration. Self-identified lesbian women (N = 342) completed an online survey assessing life stress, sexual minority stress, negative affect, hazardous alcohol use, intrusiveness, and perpetration of physical assault. RESULTS of structural equation modeling revealed negative affect and intrusiveness sequentially mediated the relationship between both minority and general life stress and physical assault perpetration. Also, life stress was related to increased hazardous alcohol use which was then associated with physical assault perpetration. Our conceptual model linking stressors to physical assault perpetration was mostly confirmed among this sample of lesbians. The results offer important information relevant to policies and clinical interventions aimed at reducing IPV in lesbian couples. Language: en

Romantic Attachment and Life Satisfaction in a Sample of Gay Men and Lesbians in Chile

ABSTRACTThis study intended to assess the relationship between romantic attachment and life satisfaction (LS) in a gay men and lesbian sample in Chile. It also aimed to identify the effect of attachment dimensions on life satisfaction for both gay men and lesbians. Through a cross-sectional study with a non-experimental design, a total of 460 homosexual adults completed the Experiences in Close Relationships and the Life Orientation Test, Revised Version. According to the results obtained, greater attachment insecurity (e.g., attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance) was linked to lower levels of LS in both gay men and lesbians. Furthermore, the model was found to be more predictive for lesbians than for gay men. Implication of these results are discussed.

Frequency, Nature, and Correlates of Hate Crime Victimization Experiences in an Urban Sample of Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Community Members.

The present study examines two central research questions. First, we sought to add to current knowledge on the frequency and types of hate crime experiences in an urban sample. Also, drawing on existing frameworks for sexual minority specific (SMS) stress, we examined internalized SMS stress (defined by internalized homophobia and acceptance concerns regarding one's minority status) as a mediator of the association between hate crime victimization (i.e., objective or social SMS stress) and mental health symptoms (i.e., symptoms of depression, anxiety, and general stress). Participants were 336 self-identified lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) community members who elected to participate in research at a community health agency in an urban southwestern United States jurisdiction. Results suggested (a) approximately one third of the sample reported lifetime hate crime victimization, with the most common types characterized by interpersonal, as opposed to property, crimes; (b) approximately half of participants reported their most recent victimization to law enforcement; and (c) internalized SMS stress mediated the relation between hate crime victimization and overall mental health symptoms. Findings are discussed with respect to implications of the unique nature of hate crimes in an urban setting, as well as theoretical and practical implications of SMS stress findings.

A Comparative Analysis of a Community and General Sample of Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Individuals.

Samples recruited at lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) venues have certain benefits, but a major drawback is that these samples are prone to bias as they only contain LGB participants who visit such venues. Empirical data with regard to the potential differences between LGB community samples and LGB general samples may shed some light on the generalizability of research findings from convenience samples recruited through LGB venues. The current study attempted to contribute to existing knowledge by examining differences in social demographics, sexual orientation, minority stress, and mental health between a convenience sample recruited at LGB venues ("community sample," N = 3,403) and an LGB sample recruited from a general research panel in the Netherlands ("panel sample," N = 1,000). Various differences were found. In general, community participants were younger, reported a more exclusive same-sex sexual orientation, were more open about their sexual orientation, had lower levels of internalized homonegativity, and encountered more negative social reactions on their LGB status. They also reported higher levels of psychological distress and suicidality. The Nagelkerke R (2) of the analyses (which were adjusted for sociodemographic differences) ranged from .08 (suicide plans among men) to .27 (sexual attraction among women). However, while the estimates of sociodemographics, sexual orientation, minority stress, and mental well-being differed, the relationships between these constructs were comparable in both samples. Implications and suggestions for future studies are discussed.

Clinical Outcomes of Enjoying Sexualization Among Lesbian Women

The Enjoyment of Sexualization Scale (ESS) was given to 150 lesbians in addition to measures of self-objectification, negative eating attitudes, and depression. The ESS was found to have acceptable levels of internal consistency reliability with a lesbian sample. Scores on the ESS were lower in this sample than in previously reported research with heterosexual women. Enjoying sexualization was found to moderate the relationship between body shame and both depressive symptomatology and negative eating attitudes. In contrast to findings from a heterosexual sample, lesbians who enjoyed sexualization had smaller relationships between these negative clinical outcomes and body shame than lesbians who did not. For lesbians, enjoying sexualization may serve a protective function against the negative effects of self-objectification. Findings are discussed in terms of body image and perceptions of ideal beauty among lesbians.