Exploring the risk and protective factors against internalized homonegativity in a sample of Lebanese individuals with same-sex desires -

Abstract

Internalized homonegativity is a concept that has received a lot of attention in the literature on lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals. It refers to internalizing the negative attitudes and stigma about homosexuality and directing them towards the self. Internalized homonegativity has significant negative impacts on the lives of LGB individuals, and was considered the main barrier to developing a positive sexual identity and to having a better psychological well-being. Even though this concept became a mainstay in the literature on LGB individuals, little is known about what predicts it and what explains it. Additionally, there is a lack of research on individuals with same-sex attractions in Arab countries, like Lebanon, where homosexuality is still covered with silence and stigma. Therefore, we aimed to address the gap in the literature by exploring the predictors of internalized homonegativity in the Lebanese context. A total of 210 individuals with same-sex desires across Lebanon completed an online questionnaire. Results revealed that legal discrimination, religiosity, and negative parental attitudes, be it real or anticipated, are risk factors for internalized homonegativity, whereas sense of belonging to the LGB community is a strong protective factor. Self-compassion did not come out as a significant predictor, but had an interesting on the bivariate level. The interpretations and limitations of the findings were discussed. Additionally, future directions, clinical implications, and recommendations for policy making were provided.