Stigma and self-esteem across societies: avoiding blanket psychological responses to gay men experiencing homophobia

Zervoulis, Karyofyllis, Lyons, Evanthia and Dinos, Sokratis (2015) Stigma and self-esteem across societies: avoiding blanket psychological responses to gay men experiencing homophobia. BJPsych Bulletin, 39. pp. 167-173. ISSN 2056-4694

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Abstract / Description

Aims and method:
The relationship between homophobia (varying from actual and perceived to internalised) and measures of well-being is well documented. A study in Athens, Greece and London, UK attempted to examine this relationship in two cities with potentially different levels of homophobia. One-hundred and eighty-eight men who have sex with men (MSM) living in London and 173 MSM living in Athens completed a survey investigating their views on their sexuality, perceptions of local homophobia and their identity evaluation in terms of global self-esteem.

Results:
The results confirmed a negative association between homophobia and self-esteem within each city sample. However, Athens MSM, despite perceiving significantly higher levels of local homophobia than London MSM, did not differ on most indicators of internalised homophobia and scored higher on global self-esteem than London MSM. The city context had a significant impact on the relationship.

Clinical implications:
The findings are discussed in relation to the implications they pose for mental health professionals dealing with MSM from communities experiencing variable societal stigmatisation and its effect on a positive sense of self.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	homophobia; gay men -- psychology; self-esteem; Athens, Greece; London, England
Subjects:	100 Philosophy & psychology > 150 Psychology 300 Social sciences
Department:	School of Social Sciences (to June 2021) School of Social Sciences and Professions
Depositing User:	Karyofyllis Zervoulis
Date Deposited:	12 Feb 2020 13:49
Last Modified:	12 Feb 2020 13:49
URI:	https://repository.londonmet.ac.uk/id/eprint/5558

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