Gender in mental health: Comparing the rate and social factors of depression, anxiety, and stress among young heterosexual and sexual minority women in the Philippines

Abstract

Young sexual minority Filipinos have been found to have a higher level of mental health problems compared to peers. It was also reported that Filipino sexual minority women had twice the odds of ill mental health such as depression compared to sexual minority men. Thus, this study compared the rates and social factors of depression, anxiety, and stress among young adult Filipino heterosexual and sexual minority women. Particularly, this quantitative study utilized a cross-sectional survey design. The Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale 21 (DASS-21), Daily Discrimination Subscale of the Perceived Discrimination Scale, and sociodemographic questionnaire were completed by 622 heterosexual and 177 sexual minority women. Afterward, descriptive statistics, chi-square, and logistic regression were done. Depression, anxiety, and stress rates were higher among sexual minority women compared to their peers. The possible risk factor for these mental health issues among heterosexual women was discrimination, while a possible protective factor was living with peers (p <.05). Among sexual minority women, it was found that discrimination is a risk factor, albeit with higher effects compared to their heterosexual counterparts. These may be explained by the reported high level of negative attitudes and discrimination that sexual minorities in the Philippines face daily in their social environment. Thus, anti-discrimination policies, gender-responsive healthcare for sexual minorities, and gender mainstreaming must be instituted and strengthened.

Keywords:

• LGBT
• mental health
• minority stress
• lesbians
• discrimination

Acknowledgments

The author would like to thank Julienne Celina Dayrit for providing the data used in this study. It came from her previous study of mental health among young Filipino adults.

Declaration of interest

The author has not received any financial support for this article.

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Rowalt Alibudbud

Rowalt Alibudbud is a fellow of the Philippine Psychiatric Association and a lecturer in the Department of Sociology and Behavioral Sciences of De La Salle University-Manila. His interest is minority stress, LGBTQ + mental health, and addiction. He plans to pursue further studies and research in gender studies with a focus on its intersections with mental health.