Psychosocial Factors Associated with Mental Health of LGBTs

Description

Page: 135-139

Monika and Gunjan (Department of Applied Psychology, Guru Jambheshwar University of Science & Technology, Hisar, Haryana)

LGBT stands for “lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community”. This community falls under sexual minorities so, they have to face many difficulties in life. Literature has revealed that LGBT people have worse mental health than heterosexual people (Cochran & Mays, 2007). Identity disclosure can cause LGBT people to face discrimination, rejection, and hostility which can harm their psychological well-being (Meyer, 2003; Ryan et al., 2009). The main objective of the present study is to highlight psychosocial factors influencing the mental health of the LGBT community. Literature has disclosed many factors that affect the mental health of this community such as stress, life satisfaction, social support, Social Discrimination and homelessness. LGBT community has to face discrimination and exclusion at all levels of society because of their sexual orientation, which can be one of the major reasons for poor mental health. Whereas, social support is one of the crucial factors for enhancing well-being of every individual because it provides experience and a sense of social connectedness and provides a buffer against stress (Cohen, 2004). Stress and homelessness are the factors that can lower their mental health but a good satisfaction with life can work as a booster in enhancing their mental health. Some other factors may include support or rejection from the family, marginalization, social stigma, etc. If individuals of society accept LGBT people just as normal people, the battle will come to an end. They just need acceptance and warmth. Therefore, we need to accept every individual as they are. They are just different, there is nothing wrong with them. We just need to change our stereotypical minds.