This is a study of the mental health status of black homosexuals from LGTBI social
organisations who have disclosed their sexual orientation. One hundred participants participated,
fifty homosexuals and fifty heterosexuals. The heterosexual participants were used as
comparative group. The General Health Questionnaire-28 and a self-designed categorical choice
questionnaire were administered to the homosexual sample out of the closet. The heterosexual
sample only answered the General Health Questionnaire-28. The designed questionnaire was
tested in the pilot study with homosexual participants.
The current study seeks to determine whether there is a relationship between disclosure of sexual
orientation and mental health. The results suggested that the homosexual population were
mentally healthier than heterosexuals of the current study. Nevertheless homosexual people did
face significant challenges in disclosing their sexual orientation. Regarding challenges that
homosexuals face, some gender differences between gays and lesbians were found. Lesbians
were found to be experiencing fewer challenges than gay participants. Being part of LGTBI
social networks was found to be associated with positive mental health for homosexuals.
Therefore, the study’s general finding was that there is an association between disclosure and
positive mental health for homosexuals belonging to LGTBI social networks. / Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2013.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:ukzn/oai:http://researchspace.ukzn.ac.za:10413/9123 |
| Date | January 2013 |
| Creators | Mbatha, Ntombifuthi. |
| Contributors | Lachenicht, Lance G. |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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