Depuis plus d'une dizaine d'années, les différences de consommation d'alcool et de harcèlement entre les individus appartenant aux minorités sexuelles et ceux appartenant aux hétérosexuels sont examinées de plus près (Hughes, McCabe, Wilsnack, West et Boyd, 2010; Katz-Wise et Hyde, 2012; Marshal, Friedman, Stall et Thompson, 2009 ; Mays et Cochran, 2001; McCabe, Hughes, Bostwick, West et Boyd, 2009). Certaines observations supposent que ceux faisant partie des minorités sexuelles consomment plus d’alcool et sont plus harcelées que ceux faisant partie des hétérosexuels (Kerr, Ding et Chaya, 2014; Katz-Wise et Hyde, 2012; Ueno, 2010; Woodford, Krentzman et Gattis, 2012). La minority stress theory peut permettre d'expliquer ces différences (Meyer, 2003). En effet, le fait de vivre dans une société qui normalise les comportements sexuels ainsi que l’hétérosexualité, est un facteur de risque pour les comportements à risque chez les individus faisant partie des minorités sexuelles (Meyer, 2003). Comprendre le rôle médiateur du harcèlement dans l’association entre faire partie des minorités sexuelles et la consommation d’alcool est motivé par l’effet potentiellement médiateur du harcèlement sur les individus faisant partie des minorités sexuelles et sur l’augmentation de la consommation d’alcool (Meyer, 2003; Woodford, Krentzman et Gattis, 2012). Méthodologie L’étude a été conduite auprès de 8 737 participants, selon une méthode d’échantillonnage stratifiée. Il s'agit d'une enquête téléphonique concernant les comportements reliés à la santé. Les participants étaient questionnés sur leur consommation d’alcool, sur leur identité sexuelle, sur leurs comportements sexuels et sur le harcèlement vécu. Des corrélations bivariées et des régressions logistiques binaires ont été réalisées pour répondre aux objectifs de l’étude et pour examiner s’il y a une médiation entre les variables. Résultats Les analyses démontrent que certaines identités sexuelles et certains comportements sexuels sont significativement différents de ceux appartenant aux hétérosexuels ou de ceux ayant des comportements sexuels avec l’autre sexe seulement, pour la consommation d’alcool et pour le harcèlement. Par contre, avoir vécu du harcèlement n’est pas significativement associé à la consommation d’alcool, lorsque contrôler avec l’identité sexuelle ou les comportements sexuels. Cette association est restée non-significative donc, une médiation ne peut être établie. Discussion Généralement, quelques différences et quelques associations peuvent être observées entre les individus appartenant aux minorités sexuelles ou aux hétérosexuels pour la consommation d’alcool et le harcèlement, mais ces différences varient selon l’identité sexuelle, les comportements sexuels et le genre. Le harcèlement, par contre, n’est pas associé avec la probabilité de consommer de l’alcool et, donc, ne peut pas avoir le rôle de médiateur.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) individuals belong to one of the most discriminated groups in Canada and abroad. Using minority stress theory, researchers have found that such a climate of homophobia and transphobia has been associated with negative mental health outcomes among LGBTQ individuals. However, despite the presence of campaigns such as the “It Gets Better Project”, few academics have explored whether it does “get better” for LGBTQ people who have experienced anti-LGBTQ prejudice in their youth; and further, few academics have explored whether such individuals who have experienced prejudice can flourish in terms of their positive mental health. Positive mental health explores how individuals can be resilient and thrive within society; it looks at positive feelings people have about themselves, others and society. However, it does not mean an absence of negative mental health outcomes, in that individuals with depression, for example, can also flourish in respect to their positive mental health. The purpose of the current thesis is to extend minority stress theory in order to consider the long-term relationship between childhood bullying and positive mental health among LGBTQ adults. Using a hierarchical ordinary least squares regression model and a sample of LGBTQ education professionals, the current study found that there was a negative long-term relationship between childhood bullying and positive mental health among LGBTQ individuals. Further, disclosing one’s LGBTQ identity, and measures of LGBTQ-inclusion and support were all associated with flourishing levels of positive mental health, although they did not fully mitigate the effects of childhood bullying. The implications of the results were discussed in relation to future practices to reduce homophobia and transphobia within society, and in turn, reduce minority stress and maintain a flourishing state of positive mental health among all LGBTQ members. / October 2016

Sexual minority individuals suffer stigmatization which often predicts negative mental health outcomes and low self-esteem. However, specific dimensions of identity have been shown to buffer against negative outcomes in racial minorities and other stigmatized groups. Yet, limited research has examined identity as a buffer for sexual minorities. This thesis aimed to explore the moderating role of identity characteristics between sexual stigma and mental health outcomes. Findings in a sample of 209 gays, lesbians, and bisexuals suggested that public stigma, centrality, and private regard predict psychological distress. Private regard also emerged as a predictor of self-esteem. Additionally, centrality and public stigma interacted such that those who reported higher centrality of sexual minority identity did not report decrements to self-esteem in the face of public stigma to the extent as those who reported lower centrality. These findings suggest centrality and private regard are key factors in the psychological well-being of sexual minorities.

<p>This quantitative study sought to expand upon research surrounding the influence pornography use has on relationship and sexual satisfaction for gays and lesbians. Previous literature has primarily focused on the couple outcomes associated with pornography use for heterosexual romantic relationships. This research was conducted and conceptualized through the lens of queer and minority stress theory. It was hypothesized that amount of shared pornography use would be positively associated with relationship and sexual satisfaction for same-sex couples. Additionally, it was hypothesized that the relationship between amount of shared pornography use and relationship as well as sexual satisfaction for same-sex couples will be more strongly positively associated for a high level of acceptance of pornography use. Lastly, it was hypothesized that the relationship between the amount of shared pornography use and level of relationship as well as sexual satisfaction will be more strongly positively associated for women than men. Five of the six hypotheses were not statistically significant. The relationship between amount of shared pornography use and level of sexual satisfaction was strongly positively associated for higher levels of acceptance of pornography use. In addition, higher levels of acceptance of pornography use were related to higher levels of relationship satisfaction. Regarding control variables, relationship status was found to be significantly associated with relationship satisfaction. Participants who reported being either engaged or married indicated higher satisfaction with the current state of their romantic relationship than participants who were dating or cohabitating. Strengths and limitations, clinical implications, and future directions for research are explored.<br></p>

This thesis addresses a significant knowledge gap in the existing literature on bias-crime, which primarily focuses on minorities while neglecting the experiences of majorities. The primary objective of this study is to shed light on bias-crimes targeting majorities and compare their impact on fear of crime with those experienced by minorities. By analysing data from a sample of 1,616 victims, this research reveals that both minority and majority bias-crime victims exhibit similar patterns in terms of fear of crime. Notably, both groups experience heightened levels of fear compared to victims of non-bias crimes, with no significant difference observed between the two. Moreover, this study identifies several factors associated with fear of crime in both minority and majority victims, including recent victimisation, intersectionality, indirect victimisation, and the presence of visibility/visual identifiers. Although this thesis initially aimed to identify differences between the two groups, it ultimately found striking similarities. The discussion section critically examines the potential role of methodological limitations in shaping these findings and offers insights into their implications. By addressing this research gap, this thesis contributes to the criminological field by offering a more comprehensive understanding of bias-crime and its impact on fear of crime among both minority and majority populations.