1,721,084 research outputs found
Differences between Gay Men and Heterosexual Participants in Working Memory after Social Exclusion
No full textIntroduction. Many studies indicated people report strong negative effects after few minutes of exclusion, such as negative mood and low levels of basic psychological need satisfaction. Literature showed belongingness to a stigmatized racial group amplified reactions to exclusion. The goals of our work are (1) to examine whether increased sensitivity to social exclusion found in racially stigmatized groups also extends to sexual orientation stigma and (2) to examine whether belongingness to a sexually stigmatized group could moderate the negative impact of exclusion on a basic executive function such as working memory capacity (WMC). Method. The sample consisted of 44 gay men and 44 heterosexual men. Participants’ ages ranged from 18 to 30 (M= 23.44, SD = 3.21). Half of both gay and heterosexual participants were assigned or to the exclusion or to the inclusion condition by Cyberball task. The design was a 2 (exclusion vs. inclusion) x 2 (gay vs. heterosexual) between subjects. WMC was measured using the automated version of the operation span task (OSPAN). Results. The 2x2 ANOVA on WMC showed no significant main effects, but a significant two-way interaction. Under social exclusion, gay men had a lower WMC than heterosexual men. Under social inclusion, WMC of gay men and heterosexuals did not significantly differ. Conclusion. This work showed that sexual stigma could amplify detrimental consequences of social exclusion in terms of WMC. Findings point out that sensitivity to exclusion originating from sexual stigma not only affects how a person feels in response to exclusion, but how a person operates and self-regulates, because WMC is a fundamental executive function involved in basically all mental complex activities including self-regulation and self-control
“Be as You Are” Clinical Research Center at the Sapienza University of Rome
Get PDFItaly's government has enacted few supportive policies for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and all other sexual orientations and gender identities with which persons may identify (LGBTQ+), and most of the fundamental rights for sexual minorities are still not recognized. Despite this social and political situation, the Department of Developmental and Social Psychology of the Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome established "Be as You Are," the first Italian clinical research center specifically created for LGBTQ + people on a university campus. The facility offers several public services, such as: (a) counseling or individual psychotherapy for LGBTQ + adolescents and young adults; (b) family therapy supporting LGBTQ + adolescents; (c) parent training programs; (d) interventions in different social contexts. This letter to the editor aims to present the clinical research center and to introduce the role played by LGBTQ + health care services to improve the well-being and mental health of sexual minority individuals, especially in stigmatized contexts where sexual prejudices are still rife, such as in Italy
Orientamento sessuale, comportamento prosociale e atteggiamenti verso il cristianesimo in un gruppo di adolescenti italiani
No full textIntroduzione. Diversi studi evidenziano l’influenza di alcune variabili sugli atteggiamenti verso il cristianesimo, come la religiosità dei genitori, il comportamento prosociale (CP) e un orientamento religioso estrinseco-sociale (ES), che consiste nell’uso strumentale della religione come fonte di gratificazione sociale. Riguardo al genere, le femmine mostrano atteggiamenti più positivi dei maschi, mentre solo poche ricerche analizzano il ruolo dell’orientamento sessuale. Il presente lavoro ipotizza (1) che le adolescenti di genere femminile e con un orientamento sessuale eterosessuale mostrino atteggiamenti più positivi verso il cristianesimo rispetto ai maschi e ai partecipanti lesbiche/gay (LG); (2) che un orientamento religioso ES e un CP siano associati a un atteggiamento positivo verso il cristianesimo. Metodo. Il campione è composto da 910 adolescenti (53% femmine, 47 % maschi), che si auto-identificano come eterosessuali (91.6%) e lesbiche/gay (8.4%). L’età varia tra i 14 e i 19 anni (M = 16.64, SD = 1.68). Gli strumenti utilizzati sono la Francis Scale of Attitude Toward Christianity (FSAC; Francis & Stubbs, 1987) per misurare gli atteggiamenti verso il cristianesimo in termini di coinvolgimento religioso profondo; lo Strenghts and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ; Goodman, 1997) per il CP; due item che indagano la percezione degli adolescenti relativa all’importanza che i genitori attribuiscono alla religione; degli item che misurano l’orientamento religioso ES. Risultati. Un’ANOVA 2 (femmine vs. maschi) X 2 (eterosessuali vs. LG) relativa agli atteggiamenti verso il cristianesimo ha evidenziato un effetto principale dell’orientamento sessuale, F(1,905) = 23.58; p < 0.001, ηp2 = 0.03, ma non del genere, e nessun effetto interazione. Gli adolescenti eterosessuali (M = 87.91, SD = 23.43) mostrano atteggiamenti più positivi verso il cristianesimo rispetto agli adolescenti LG (M = 74.79, SD = 14.79). La scala FSAC correla positivamente con la religiosità dei genitori, il CP e un orientamento religioso ES. La regressione gerarchica multipla evidenzia che alti punteggi nella FSAC risultano associati con il genere femminile (β = –.07, t = – 2.67, p = .008), l’orientamento sessuale eterosessuale (β = .12, t = 4.53, p < .001), un’elevata religiosità paterna (β =.08, t = 2.63, p = .008), e materna (β = .23, t = 7.36, p < .001); inoltre emerge che alti punteggi nell’orientamento religioso ES (β = .32, t = 11.37, p < .001), e nel CP (β = .21, t = 8.01, p < .001), risultano significativamente associati con atteggiamenti positivi verso il cristianesimo. Conclusioni. L’appartenenza a una minoranza sessuale emerge come un fattore ostacolante in termini di propensione verso il cristianesimo, riflettendo la percepita inaccessibilità alla religione da parte di persone LG. In un’età delicata come quella dell’adolescenza, è importante promuovere interventi di inclusione e riconoscimento delle diverse soggettività nei vari ambiti socio-culturali condivisi
Capitolo 3. Le domande dei genitori: dubbi, paure e desiderio di capire
No full textChe cosa vuol dire coming out? Come reagiscono i genitori al coming out?
In che modo i genitori possono contribuire alla promozione del benessere
della propria figlia o del proprio figlio? Sono alcune delle domande alle quali
risponde questo libro attraverso le testimonianze di genitori di ragazze
lesbiche e ragazzi gay. Ciò che emerge dalla lettura delle storie di vita è
l’importanza di poter condividere le proprie emozioni ed esperienze. Il
confronto con altri genitori in uno spazio di ascolto non giudicante permette
non solo di superare le proprie paure e difficoltà ma soprattutto di rinascere
come genitori
A Long Parents’ Journey After Children’s Coming Out: Obstacles, Relationships, Generativity, and Life Balance
No full textParents’ perspective on their child’s coming out (CO) remains an under-researched area, especially the investigation of parents adapting to their role post-CO years. The study qualitatively explored parents’ recollections of their children’s CO, spanning over 15 years. The study involved 15 parents (9 mothers, 6 fathers) of 4 lesbian daughters (Mage = 20.7; SDage = 7.8) and 11 gay sons (Mage = 23.0; SDage = 6.2). A semi-structured interview was employed to probe parents’ responses to their child’s CO and the long-term evolution of their CO experiences (M = 20.1; SD = 4.8). A thematic analysis was conducted through the software ATLAS.ti. Four themes were observed: (1) risk and protective factors; (2) effects of CO on relationships; (3) parents’ generativity; (4) life balance. Acceptance challenges included a lack of LGBQ+ awareness and difficulties in sharing the disclosure with extended family, particularly grandparents. Parents reported numerous strategies, some involving parental generativity, like LGBQ+ activism. Milestones like marriage and the arrival of grandchildren reinforced parents’ protective role as they aged, with the child’s LGBQ+ disclosure marking a transformative moment leading to a more authentic relationship
Identità Positiva e Benessere nelle Persone Lesbiche, Gay e Bisessuali
No full textIntroduzione. L’influenza dell’identità positiva sul benessere delle persone lesbiche, gay e bisessuali (LBG) è un ambito di ricerca ancora poco esplorato (Mohr & Kendra, 2011; Riggle et al., 2014). Gli studi esistenti hanno comunque evidenziato che una definizione positiva della propria identità LGB sia positivamente associata al benessere psicologico e la soddisfazione di vita. Tuttavia, la maggior parte delle ricerche hanno valutato costrutti non legati a dimensioni positive dell’identità quali ad esempio lo stigma sessuale interiorizzato (SSI) o l’eterosessismo interiorizzato (Mohr & Fassinger, 2000; Balsam & Mohr, 2007). La letteratura più recente evidenzia che l’identità positiva non dovrebbe essere considerata come il versante opposto di un’identità LBG negativa. In linea con tale argomentazioni, Riggle et al. (2014) hanno recentemente sviluppato una nuova misura (LGB-PIM) che valuta le componenti multidimensionali connotate positivamente dell’identità LGB, attraverso 5 dimensioni: consapevolezza, autenticità, comunità, intimità, e giustizia sociale. Nel presente studio, ipotizziamo che le persone LGB con alti livelli di identità positiva mostrino un maggior livello di benessere (W-BQ12; Bradley, 1994) rispetto alle persone che hanno bassi punteggi nelle sottoscale dell’LGB-PIM, tenendo sotto controllo l’effetto dell’età, del genere, dell’orientamento sessuale e dello SSI. Metodo. La presente ricerca è stata condotta su 143 uomini gay, 95 lesbiche, e 89 persone bisessuali tra i 15 e i 35 anni (M = 26.6, DS = 5.3). Una regressione lineare multipla è stata computata per misurare come età, genere, e orientamento sessuale (Step 1), lo SSI (Step 2) e le sottoscale dell’LGB-PIM (Step 3), possono predire il livello di benessere dei partecipanti. Risultati. Un alto punteggio di benessere è associato con alti livelli di autenticità, (β = .31, t = 4.30, p < .001), comunità (β = .13, t = 1.97, p = .04), e giustizia sociale (β = –. 13, t = –2.14, p = .03), controllando per età (β = .14, t = 2.74, p < .01), genere (β = .03, t = .51, p = .61) e orientamento sessuale (β = –.13, t = –.24, p = .81), e SSI (β = –.15, t = –2.45, p = .01). Il benessere non è risultato associato con le dimensioni dell’identità definite come consapevolezza e intimità. L’ R2 per tutto il modello è .21. Conclusioni. I risultati suggeriscono che i migliori predittori del benessere siano la dimensione autenticità, comunità e giustizia sociale della scala dell’identità positiva. I partecipanti con un’età maggiore, di sesso femminile, con un orientamento non bisessuale e bassi livelli di SSI riportano livelli più elevati di benessere percepito. L’identità positiva può essere un costrutto utile per la promozione di competenze intra–e interpersonali delle persone LGB. E’ necessario promuovere interventi mirati a rafforzare un’identità LGB positiva, sia nella società in generale che all’interno della comunità LGB
Italian sexual minority older adults in healthcare services: identities, discriminations, and competencies
No full textPurpose This study explores perceptions and experiences related to healthcare utilization in a group of Italian sexual minority
older adults, to understand the unique challenges faced by this population when accessing healthcare services. Older adults
represent one of the subgroups exposed to the highest risk within sexual minorities with regard to physical and mental health.
Method Data collection occurred between October 2018 and April 2019. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with 23
participants over 60 years, including questions about participants’: experiences when dealing with physical/mental healthcare
services; tendency to disclose sexual orientation in clinical contexts; preferences and desires when seeking care. Data were
analyzed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), in order to provide qualitative information on participants’
experiences. Results Three interconnected themes were identified: the relevance of clinician and patient’s identities in determining confidence
and satisfaction; expectations and experiences of discrimination; the need for specific competencies on sexualminority concerns.
Conclusion Access and utilization of healthcare services can be considered as a multi-faceted phenomenon which involves
people’s past and current experiences, perceptions, expectations and desires. Participants’ perception of having to deal with
heterosexist healthcare settings influences health behaviors and outcomes.
Policy Implications Interventions directed to healthcare providers are needed, to increase specific competencies and ensure safe
and affirming environments
Capitolo 5. Storie di noi genitori. Quanta Bellezza: Mamme e papà di figlie lesbiche e figli gay si raccontano.
No full textChe cosa vuol dire coming out? Come reagiscono i genitori al coming out?
In che modo i genitori possono contribuire alla promozione del benessere
della propria figlia o del proprio figlio? Sono alcune delle domande alle quali
risponde questo libro attraverso le testimonianze di genitori di ragazze
lesbiche e ragazzi gay. Ciò che emerge dalla lettura delle storie di vita è
l’importanza di poter condividere le proprie emozioni ed esperienze. Il
confronto con altri genitori in uno spazio di ascolto non giudicante permette
non solo di superare le proprie paure e difficoltà ma soprattutto di rinascere
come genitori
Coming out to parents in lesbian and bisexual women: the role of internalized sexual stigma and positive LB identity
Get PDFThe experience of “coming out” (CO) to parents is often a crucial event in the lives of lesbian and bisexual (LB) women, associated with lower internalized sexual stigma (ISS) and higher positive LB identity. Few studies have compared the experiences of LB women in the CO process. Rather, most prior research has either: (1) not addressed bisexuality or eliminated bisexual individuals from the analysis; (2) combined bisexual women and bisexual men in the same sexual orientation group; or (3) examined bisexual participants alongside lesbian women and gay men, using a single monolithic measure. Thus, the present research aimed at investigating the role of ISS and positive LB identity in inhibiting or encouraging CO to parents in a sample of 241 lesbian women (Mage = 27.61, SD = 7.19) and 186 bisexual women (Mage = 25.23, SD = 5.81), aged 18–40 years. Most participants reported that they had already revealed their sexual orientation to their mother (69%) and their father (52%). More lesbian women had CO to both their mother and their father than had bisexual women. These lesbian women reported lower levels of ISS and higher levels of LB positive identity relative to bisexual women. On average, CO to mothers occurred at age 20 (SD = 5.54), while CO to fathers occurred at age 22 (SD = 5.63). LB women did not differ in the average age of CO to mothers or fathers, or in parental reactions to CO. Finally, ISS was found to affect the process of CO to both parents via positive identity (bootstrapping estimate = −0.26, SE = 0.08, 95% CI = −0.43, 0.11), whereas sexual orientation was not found to moderate the path from ISS to CO to both parents. The present study contributes to our understanding of the differences between LB women when developing their sexual orientation, highlighting the relevance of a positive LB identity for CO to parents. Research and clinical implications and directions for future research are discussed
CHILD RUMINATION INTERVIEW VALIDATION: A CHILD-FRIENDLY TOOL TO ASSESS RUMINATION IN KIDS
No full textRumination is a cognitive process characterized by an abstract, repetitive, and negative thinking style. In spite of its crucial role for the prevention of distress and the promotion of well being in children, the construct of rumination in childhood has received little attention in the scientific literature. One of the possible causes of such neglect may rely in the absence of appropriate tools to assess rumination in this age group. To overcome this limitation, the present study first aimed at validating a child-friendly tool (Children Rumination Interview; CRI) to be used in a sample of aged 6-12 years. Methods. The sample was composed of 49 males and 51 females, aged between 7 and 12 years (N = 100; average age =9.35 ± 1.13 years) in medium-high socioeconomic status, attended school in Italy’s central regions.
Children/preadolescent’s rumination was assessed through a semi-structured interview developed ad hoc for this study. In addition to the interview, participants were individually administered a battery of self-report standardized questionnaires. We used Children's Response Style Questionnaire to examine concurrent and discriminant validity. The average time needed to complete the session was 20-30 minutes. Children Rumination Interview. The Children Rumination Interview (CRI) is a children-friendly instrument that uses vignettes and cartoons to assess rumination tendencies inchildren and preadolescents aged 7 to 12 years. Compared to other self-report linguistic instruments, this illustrated tool has the advantage to be usable with samples speaking any language. The CRI has two comparable versions, one for males and one for females, and depicts four unpleasant prototypical events that may trigger ruminative thoughts: 1) alone (i.e., looking at his/her broken toy); 2) with his/her parents (i.e., being reproached because his/her room is a mess); 3) with friends (i.e., being teased by his/her mates); 4) at school (receiving a bad grade from the teacher). For each of these cartoons, the child is first asked to describe the scene to ensure accurate understanding, then to report if the depicted event has ever occurred to him/her.
As an important feature of rumination is the persistence of unpleasant thoughts over time, well beyond the occurrence of the event itself, each situation also includes three further vignettes in which the same event is represented as a cartoon in the children’s head. Three different times after the occurrence of the event are depicted: a few hours after, before going to sleep, and the next day. For each of these three vignettes, the participant is asked to report on a 5-point Likert scale (from 1 = never to 5 = always), how often he/she happened to think about the unpleasant event. Levels of sadness, happiness and anger may be optionally assessed at the beginning and the end of the task by the use of cartoons representing a Likert scale (from 0 = not at all to 5 = very much). Children's Response Style Questionnaire.
The Children's Response Style Questionnaire (CRSQ; Abela et al. 2000) has been derived from the adults’ Response Style Questionnaire (Nolen-Hoeksema and Morrow 1991). It is a self-report instrument consisting of 25 items divided into three subscales: rumination, distraction and problem solving. Respondents are asked to indicate how often (from 0 = almost never to 3 = almost always) they engage a specific behavior when they experience sadness. Cronbach’s alpha in the present study ranged from .73 to .81 for the different subscales. An explorative factor analysis was conducted on the initial set of 13 items, using the PAF. Factor analysis yielded two main factors: personal life-related rumination (31.1% of the total variance) and school-related rumination (12.9% of the total variance).
Cronbach’s α was .80 for the first and .74 for the second dimension. A 2x2 factorial MANOVA was performed to test for the effect of gender and age (7-9 years vs. 10-12 years) on the two CRI factors and the total score. Significant gender (Wilks' λ = 0.88; F(3,94) = 4.14, p < .01, η2 = 0.12) and age (Wilks' λ = 0.82; F(3,94) = 6.87, p < .01, η2 = 0.18) effects emerged. The analysis did not yield any gender X age interaction effect. Older (10-12 years) and female participants showed higher tendencies to ruminate about school issues compared to their younger (7-9 years) and male counterparts. A positive correlation emerged between total score CRI and Rumination scale CRSQ(r= .45; p<.01), proving the concurrent and discriminant validity. There wasn’t correlation between total score CRI and Distraction and Problem solving scale CRSQ (r=.04; p<.01; r=-.06; p<.01). It was checked the reliability both subscale identified in the factor analysis. For the first subscale (personal life-related rumination) α Cronbach =.80; for the second subscale (school-related rumination) α di Cronbach =. 74. The effect of age is not surprising if we consider that our age range encompasses the transition from elementary to middle school (at 11 years). As to gender differences, a meta-analysis found small but significant differences in rumination between boys and girls in childhood (d = .14) and adolescence (d = .36), with girls more likely to ruminate than boys (Johnson & Whisman 2013). Our data suggests that such effect sizes may increase if different types of rumination are taken into account. Overall, results point to the fact that gender disparities in rumination may emerge early during the development. The CRI appears as a promising tool to assess rumination in children/preadolescents and suggests partially different pathways to specific forms of ruminative thoughts
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