From Invisibility to Bivisibility: Identity Abuse and Mental Health Outcomes among Bisexual Individuals

Abstract

There has been a growth in research that is focused on the experiences of bisexual individuals. Bisexual individuals are disproportionately impacted by identity abuse, a form of intimate partner violence perpetrated against an individual’s visible and/or invisible identities that serves to discredit, undermine or devalue those identities (Scheer et al., 2019). The aim of the current study was to examine the relationship between experiences of identity abuse (in the past year and adulthood), depression and generalized anxiety symptoms, and how both are moderated by identity affirmation in a sample of 83 partnered bisexual people. A quarter of the sample endorsed having experienced at least one form of identity abuse in the past year and an overwhelming majority (66.3%) in their adulthood. Using moderation analyses, identity affirmation did not moderate the relationship between identity abuse in the past year and adulthood, and depression and generalized anxiety symptoms. These findings highlight the need to continue conducting research that is bisexual-specific in an effort to develop a better understanding of their experiences, stressors and protective factors.

Keywords:

• Bisexual
• violence
• identity abuse
• relationships
• identity affirmation

Notes

1. Throughout the paper, different acronyms will be used to describe individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and queer (LGBTQ). Lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) will be used in reference to sexual minorities, trans and gender non-conforming (TGNC) in reference to gender minorities, lesbian and gay (LG), and LGBTQ in reference to sexual and gender minorities, unless otherwise noted.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Lehigh University, College of Education, Multicultural Resource Center.

Notes on contributors

Malaïka H.C Gutekunst

Malaïka H.C. Gutekunst, M.Ed., is a doctoral student in Lehigh University’s Counseling Psychology program. Her research is focused on trauma-informed practices and the mental health effects of oppression, violence and trauma.

Christopher T.H Liang

Christopher T. H. Liang, Ph.D., is Department Chairperson of Education and Human Services and Professor of Counseling Psychology at Lehigh University. He is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association (Divisions 17, 45, 51).