Sexual orientation is a person's pattern of emotional, romantic, or sexual attraction to another person. Sexual orientation encompasses both physical and emotional attractions, and how these are expressed in relationships. It is different from gender identity, which refers to one's internal sense of self as male, female, or something else. Cultural and social stressors can include family expectations, religious beliefs, societal norms, employment discrimination, and media representations. These factors may interact with sexual orientation to affect overall mental health and psychosocial functioning.
The scientific literature suggests that there is an association between higher rates of depression, anxiety, and substance abuse among individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer (LGBTQ) compared to heterosexuals. This could be due to stigma and discrimination related to their sexual orientation, which can lead to feelings of isolation, rejection, and marginalization. In addition, LGBTQ people may experience higher levels of violence, including hate crimes and microaggressions, which can further impact their mental health.
Cultural and social stressors can also impact sexual behavior and intimacy.
Some cultures may view same-sex relationships as taboo or immoral, leading to shame, guilt, and secrecy around sexual desires and activities. This can lead to negative consequences for mental health, such as increased risk-taking behaviors or decreased satisfaction with sex life. Similarly, social pressures for monogamy or sexual exclusivity can create tension for those who are non-monogamous, polyamorous, or kinky.
Research indicates that sexual orientation intersects with other aspects of identity, such as gender, race, class, ability, age, and geography. Cultural and social stressors can exacerbate these intersections, creating additional barriers to good mental health and well-being. It is crucial for healthcare providers and society at large to acknowledge the complexity of sexual orientation and its interactions with culture and society in order to support LGBTQ people's mental health needs.
How does sexual orientation interact with cultural and social stressors to affect overall mental health and psychosocial functioning?
Sexual orientation can be defined as an enduring pattern of romantic, emotional, physical, and/or sexual attraction to another individual that involves romantic and sexual relationships between people (Coleman et al. , 2019). On the other hand, culture is a complex system of beliefs, values, practices, institutions, and behaviors that are shared by members of a society (Wallace & Albrecht, 2017).