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Internalized Homophobia: A Factor in Depression, Anxiety, and Suicide in the Gay and Lesbian Population

Publication: Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health
September 2003

Abstract

Two-hundred and twenty participants recruited through multiple sampling strategies completed a self-report questionnaire examining: (a) whether internalized homophobia predicts depressive and anxious symptoms, suicide, and substance abuse; and (b) the periods of gay-identity development which were particularly risky for suicide. Results indicate that internalized homophobia, particularly negative feelings towards one's own homosexuality (as measured by the Self subscale of the Nungesser Homosexual Attitudes Inventory), accounts for 18% of the variance in depressive scores and 13% of anxiety scores (using the Beck inventories). Internalized homophobia did not predict suicide independently from depression. The period of greatest risk for both suicidal ideation and suicide attempts was the period of disclosure of one's homosexuality to one's immediate family.

Résumé

Deux cent vingt participantes et participants, recrutés au moyen de diverses stratégies d'échantillonnage, ont complété un questionnaire autoadministré visant à établir (a) le lien entre l'homophobie intériorisée et la dépression, l'anxiété, l'abus de substances et le suicide et (b) les périodes du développement identitaire gai où le risque de comportements suicidaires est plus élevé. Les résultats indiquent que l'homophobie intériorisée, plus particulièrement les attitudes négatives face à sa propre homosexualité (telles que mesurées par l'échelle «Self» du Nungesser Homosexual Attitudes Inventory), explique 18% de la variabilité des scores dépressifs et 13% de la variabilité des scores d'anxiété (tels que mesurés par les inventaires de Beck). L'homophobie intériorisée n'influe pas, séparément de la dépression, sur le suicide. La période où le risque tant des idées que des tentatives suicidaires est le plus élevé correspond au moment du dévoilement de l'homosexualité à la famille immédiate.

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cover image Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health
Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health
Volume 22Number 2September 2003
Pages: 15 - 30

History

Version of record online: 12 May 2009

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Karine J. Igartua
Kathryn Gill
Richard Montoro

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