Secure attachment and individual protective factors against internalized homophobia

Abstract

This article explores the relationship between internalized homophobia and three main variables: attachment to mother, father, and peers; ego resiliency; and self-esteem. We recruited 51 Italian gay men and 54 lesbian women aged between 18 and 30, and asked them to complete self-report measures. The results showed that internalized homophobia negatively correlated with the security of attachment to father and self-esteem. On the other hand, no significant association was found between ego resiliency and internalized homophobia. The implications of these findings are considered in the discussion, along with the potential role of preventive programs targeting attachment relationships and self-esteem levels in order to promote well-being.

Keywords:

• Internalized homophobia
• attachment
• sexual minority
• youth
• identity

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Dr. Matteo D’Alessandro for his collaborative efforts in the data collection.

Conflicts of interest

There are no financial conflicts of interest to disclose.