Sexual violence and mental health among young bi+ and lesbian women and gender minoritized people

Abstract

Introduction

Sexual minoritized people report worse mental health and are at risk of sexual violence compared to their heterosexual peers.

Method

We conducted a survey to explore sexual stigma, sexual violence, and mental health among 326 bi+ and lesbian women and gender minoritized people age 18–25.

Results

Mental health did not differ by sexual identity; sexual stigma and violence were associated with negative mental health symptoms, as were identifying as BIPOC, as trans or nonbinary, or having less formal education.

Conclusion

Sexual stigma and violence are related to mental health among young bi+ and lesbian women and gender minoritized people.

Keywords:

• Sexual violence
• sexual stigma
• bisexual
• lesbian
• mental health

Ethics statement

Ethical approval was provided by the Mount Holyoke College IRB.

Disclosure statement

The authors have no financial interests to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

This research was funded by the Wayne F. Placek Grant from the American Psychological Association. Support for this project was also provided by National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (Award No. K01 DK123193). The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, Corey E. Flanders, upon reasonable request.