A Biopsychosocial Perspective on Bisexuality: A Review for Marriage and Family Therapists

Abstract

Although bisexual individuals make up the largest subpopulation within the broader lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) community, they experience inflated rates of discrimination and heighted negative physical and mental health outcomes. The first section of the paper outlines the available literature on bisexuality by examining the biological, psychological, and social processes that influence the experiences of bisexual individuals. The second section of the manuscript describes considerations for working with bisexual individuals in couple and family therapy. The article concludes with recommendations for future research and how the gaps identified in the literature can be further addressed.

Keywords:

• Bisexuality
• health
• therapy
• biphobia
• LGBTQ experiences
• discrimination

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Jennifer G. Torres

Jennifer G. Torres is pursuing her PhD in Systems, Families, and Couples (Marriage and Family Therapy track) and MPH in Population Medicine at Loma Linda University. She received her MS in Family Therapy at the University of Massachusetts Boston. Jennifer’s research focuses on the intersection of mental and physical health with a particular focus on bisexual, Filipinx, and Filipinx American populations. She aims to improve the assessment and treatment of both physical and mental health in underserved communities and minority groups, and evaluate the benefit of addressing these health outcomes within a socio-cultural context.