Exploring Mental Health Continuum and Perceived Stress in LGB and Heterosexual Young Adults

Description

Page: 241-248

Sukhminder Kaur and Harleen Chawla (Department of Psychology, Punjabi University, Patiala, Punjab)

Individuals having different sexual orientations, i.e., Lesbian, gay, or bisexual than of heterosexual orientation are reported to experience discrimination and stigmatization which puts them at heightened risk of experiencing mental health concerns such as anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, substance abuse, etc. As Indian society historically and traditionally had heteronormative societal standards, individuals with lesbian, gay, and bisexual orientation might come to believe that they are not seen as equal to their heterosexual counterparts. Thus, the present study was aimed at analysing the mental health continuum along with perceived stress among lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals, and a comparative group of heterosexual men and women in Indian society. It was hypothesized that lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals would score lower on the mental health continuum and higher on perceived stress as compared to their heterosexual counterparts. For this purpose, Keyes’s Mental Health Continuum (Keyes, 2005) and Perceived Stress Scale (Cohen et al., 1983) were applied through the registered online platforms and organizations to individuals identifying themselves as lesbian, gay, and bisexual. Heterosexual men as well as women were approached in colleges and universities. The current investigation consisted of N=298 (Lesbian=74, Gay=54, Bisexual=77, Heterosexual men=45 & Heterosexual women=48) participants in the age range of 18 to 35 years (M=24.92, SD=4.05). Obtained data was analysed using One-way ANOVA. Results revealed that lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals vary significantly on the mental health continuum and perceived stress in comparison to their heterosexual counterparts. The results of the current study have substantial implications for mental health practitioners, policymakers, medical professionals, and the general public.