<p>Abstract Mixed findings in the research on mental health issues in the lesbian community have resulted in conflicting conclusions as to whether the prevalence rate of generalized anxiety disorders and depression in the lesbian population differs from that of non-lesbians. The variability of findings may be due to factors such as discrimination, coming-out, and self-esteem. Using the minority stress model a framework, the purpose of this quantitative survey study was to examine whether perceptions of discrimination, coming-out, and self-esteem levels predict lesbians? anxiety and depression. Participants anonymously completed online measures of the Outness Inventory, the Schedule of Sexually Discriminatory Events, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, the Beck Depression Inventory-II, and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. The snowball sample consisted of 105 self-identified lesbian women from the United States. Hierarchical regression was used to test the hypotheses. According to study results, frequency and stressfulness of sexual discrimination, coming-out, and self-esteem levels predicted depression and anxiety, with low self-esteem as the only significant predictor of depression and anxiety. The findings were only partially consistent with the minority stress model because perceived discrimination did not predict depression or anxiety. This study facilitates positive social change by pointing out and focusing on the need for mental health interventions specific to the stresses that lesbians face pertaining to low self-esteem, as that predicts their anxiety and depression.

<p> Gay men from conservative Christian denominations like the Jehovah&rsquo;s Witnesses (JW), where a non-heterosexual identity is considered ungodly, experience difficulties integrating their sexual identity into such a religious identity (Brooke, 2005). This study explored the therapeutic experiences of gay male individuals who aspired to reconcile their spiritual identities as current, or former Jehovah&rsquo;s Witnesses (JWs) with their concurrent non-heterosexual identities. The purpose of this research was to identify specific interventions and processes in therapy that these individuals highlight as having helped them (or hindered them) syncretize their gay sexual orientation with their spiritual beliefs and practices.</p><p> Utilizing elements of the Enhanced Critical Incident Technique (Butterfield, Borgen, Maglio, &amp; Amundson, 2005) eight gay men who are, or were, Jehovah&rsquo;s Witnesses and who had participated in psychotherapy were interviewed in order to identify aspects of their therapeutic experience that they found helped them in their desire to integrate their religious identities and their sexual orientation. Elements of the psychotherapy experience that participants identified as important included the establishment of a safe therapeutic environment, the therapists&rsquo; use of self-disclosure and active engagement in therapy, the therapists&rsquo; willingness to learn about Jehovah&rsquo;s Witnesses&rsquo; beliefs, and the importance of the therapists&rsquo; cultural competence in professional practice. The findings of the study revealed that client-therapist connection, therapeutic engagement, and the act of empowering gay JW clients were critical in facilitating the integration of competing sexual and religious identities for the participants. The best practices identified by the participants can inform the development of culture-specific training for therapists who treat JW gay men, and suggest areas for further research.</p>

<p> In this study, I explored the impact legal marriage has had on gay men in legally sanctioned same-sex marriages. Participants included five gay men who were legally married in Massachusetts. Each participant was interviewed three times; twice using a semi-structured interview guide developed for this study plus a feedback session for clarification and validity check. Narrative information was coded for emergent categories and themes using a constructivist-interpretivist phenomenological approach. I sought to explore how gay men perceive their relationships after being able to marry, the extent to which being married has impacted how they view themselves and their relationships, as well as how the availability of legal marriage has affected social acceptance and community support. Three categories emerged from coded narrative data: (a) Entering Marriage, which included themes of how participants defined marriage, as well as processes that led them to marry; (b) Mechanics and Meaning-Making in Marriage, which included themes relating to changes participants noticed in themselves since being married, as well as differences in how aspects of marriage such as division of labor, finance, intimacy, and family expansion were navigated; and (c) Marriage in Context, which included themes relating to community, social, and political influences on participants&rsquo; marriages. The findings revealed that legal marriage has had a positive impact for these five men across intrapsychic, interpersonal, and social domains, though each participant experienced these impacts differently. I hope the information gathered will help contextualize the issue of gay male marriage equality reflected in real life experience as the field of psychology continues to expand the notions of healthy family relationships and their constellations.</p>

<p> Though many father-son pairs struggle with relating, on average heterosexual father-homosexual son pairs are much less affectionate and symbiotic than their heterosexual counterparts (Floyd, Sargent, &amp; Di Corcia, 2004). According to feminist investigators, conflictual relations between heterosexual fathers and homosexual sons are grounded in antihomosexual stigma and prejudice (Floyd et al., 2004) and gender atypical behaviors (Savin-Williams, 2001). From a depth psychological perspective, these dysfunctional relations are ascribed to shared cultural complexes (Singer &amp; Kimbles, 2004a) of the archetypal masculine. In order to understand these processes, the current study explored the lived experience of cultural complexes of the archetypal masculine shared between heterosexual fathers and homosexual sons. The study applied a phenomenological method of analysis to data collected from interviews of an ethnically diverse convenience sample of 3 heterosexual fathers and 3 homosexual sons. The results yielded 12 major themes: performance anxiety, gendered fathers, atypicality, variant masculinity, heteronormative masculine reinforcements, homonegativity, group inclusion and exclusion, microaggressions, shame and embarrassment, suppression and restriction, withdrawal, and disconnection. These themes were further organized and discussed from both the feminist and depth psychological perspectives. The analysis revealed that when heterosexual fathers and homosexual sons cling to one end of the archetypal masculine spectrum, they fail to observe their disidentified selves projected in the other. This leads to an endless cycle of shared cultural complex interactions that corrupts heterosexual fathers and homosexual sons from relating to each other as well as to themselves. Keywords: Cultural complexes, archetypal masculinity, homosexuality, stigma</p>

<p> The lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning population has high prevalence rates of nicotine dependence in comparison to their heterosexual counterparts, creating a health disparity that is under-researched. Past research has indicated that factors such as minority stress and anxiety play key roles in the development of smoking behaviors in the general population but has not been researched in the LGBTQ population. In addition, internalized homophobia has been linked to substance abuse but its role in nicotine dependence has not been examined. This study proposed that anxiety and internalized homophobia would predict nicotine dependence in the LGBTQ population. A total of 61 LGBTQ individuals participated by completing an online survey. A hierarchical multiple regression was conducted and results suggested that anxiety and internalized homophobia were not predictors of nicotine dependence in the LGBTQ population. However, it was found that individuals questioning their identity did experience more internalized homophobia than those who identify as lesbian, gay, or bisexual. </p>

<p> When marriage equality became legal in 2015, more gay men started getting married. With minimal research on qualities leading to perceived marital success, mental health professionals could not offer guidance on strengthening marital satisfaction for these couples. Further, gay men had few gay role models for marital success to provide guidance and insights. To help address this lack of research, this dissertation focused on how gay men fostered marital success. </p><p> In this study, constructivist grounded theory was utilized to flexibly examine and analyze the qualities that lead to perceived marital success for eight married gay men from across the United States. Two rounds of interviews were conducted to gather narrative data and distinguish categories and properties that captured the success characteristics identified through participants lived experiences. </p><p> Findings indicate that gay men feel successful when their relationship needs and feelings of belongingness are satisfied, and they have the ability to dexterously apply relationship skills to build a strong relationship framework while working as a team to overcome potential barriers. Parenting, feelings of security, and negotiating sexual agreements were important relationship experiences for these couples. </p><p> Mental health professionals who are looking to help married gay men should consider the individual histories, environmental supports available, communication style, and the dyadic aspirations for these couples. Future research should focus on ethnic and socioeconomic diversity, and researchers should investigate marital success for couples whose marriages were not preceded by ceremonial commitments or legally binding partnerships. These parameters would expand the scope of generalizability.</p><p>

<p> This study examined sexual victimization, resilience, and revictimization in the transgender community. Participants were recruited nationally through targeted Facebook advertising. This study observed that transgender participants were more likely to experience victimization and revictimization when compared to cisgender participants. It was also observed that transgender participants had more positive attitudes toward help-seeking but scored lower on a resilience scale than cisgender and sexual minorities. Implications will be discussed. </p><p>