Sexual orientation describes an individual's enduring physical, romantic, emotional, and/or spiritual attraction to another person. It is distinct from gender identity, which concerns how individuals perceive themselves in relation to masculinity and femininity. Sexual orientation involves one's feelings and actions regarding opposite or same-sex partners; while gender identity is about one's internal sense of being male, female, neither, both, or something else. Although most research has focused on heterosexuals and homosexuals, recent studies have examined nonheterosexualities such as bisexuality and pansexuality.
There are still many cultural barriers that limit self-esteem among nonheterosexuals in highly stigmatized environments.
LGBTQ+ people often experience rejection, shame, discrimination, and violence due to prejudice and lack of acceptance in their communities. This may lead to low self-esteem, mental health issues, and difficulties functioning socially.
Researchers investigated if sexual orientation affects self-esteem and found mixed results. Some studies show that lesbians and gay men feel worse about themselves compared to heterosexuals because they face more social disapproval and less social support than straight people. Other studies indicate that sexual minorities have similar levels of self-esteem as heterosexuals. Yet other studies suggest that sexual orientation does not influence self-esteem but rather the degree to which people internalize negative views of their sexuality. In addition, some studies indicate that gender nonconforming youth who identify as transgender, intersex, or queer experience lower self-esteem than cisgender peers due to marginalization and alienation from family and friends. These findings suggest that sexual attraction toward the same sex can indeed impact self-esteem in stigmatized contexts by influencing feelings of worthlessness and belonging.
Factors beyond sexual orientation play a role in self-esteem. Age, income, race/ethnicity, education level, religion, personality traits such as agreeableness and conscientiousness, and family history are all associated with self-esteem. Thus, understanding how these variables interact with sexuality is crucial for identifying effective strategies to promote positive self-image.
Research shows that LGBTQ+ individuals with strong ties to their communities report higher self-esteem than those without them. Similarly, being out to friends and family is linked to greater confidence and happiness. Therefore, creating safe spaces for nonheteronormative people to express themselves may improve mental health and well-being.
It's essential to consider multiple facets of identity when evaluating self-esteem among sexual minorities in highly stigmatized cultures.
How does sexual attraction toward the same sex influence self-esteem in highly stigmatized cultural environments?
Studies have shown that individuals who experience strong sexual attractions towards the same sex tend to exhibit lower levels of self-esteem compared to those attracted to the opposite gender. This is because these cultures often hold negative views on homosexuality, which can lead to discrimination, prejudice, and social exclusion from family, friends, peers, and the community at large.