Retrospective differential analysis of mental health variables in lesbians, gays and bisexuals (lgb) victims of homophobic bullying at school

Abstract

One of the contexts where persons with non-normative affective-sexual orientation suffer more discrimination, violence and rejection, is the school context. Empirical evidence verifies that this harassment, suffered in the past, may leave an important imprint on the psychological well-being of these subjects. The present study had as its first objective to analyze if lesbians, gays and bisexuals (LGB) who suffered a stressful event in childhood and/or adolescence, such as having been the victim of school harassment on account of affective-sexual orientation, show negative consequences in their psychological well-being. The results, obtained from 119 LGB subjects, suggest that bullying suffered in childhood and/or adolescence affects the subjects’ psychological well-being of today and, specifically, depression and anxiety levels, self-esteem and affective balance. Along with these factors, the instrumentality and expressiveness dimensions of gender identity can also be factors which may influence psychological well-being.