Sexual Orientation Microaggression Experiences and Coping Responses of Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Individuals in Taiwan: A Qualitative Study

Yu-Te Huang; Wen-Jiun Chou; Yi-Chen Hang; Cheng-Fang Yen

doi:10.3390/ijerph20032304

Sexual Orientation Microaggression Experiences and Coping Responses of Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Individuals in Taiwan: A Qualitative Study

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023 Jan 28;20(3):2304. doi: 10.3390/ijerph20032304.

Authors

Yu-Te Huang¹, Wen-Jiun Chou^{2

3}, Yi-Chen Hang⁴, Cheng-Fang Yen^{5

6

7}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong RM543, China.
² Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical Center, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan.
³ School of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan.
⁴ Taiwan Gender Equity Education Association, Taipei 10089, Taiwan.
⁵ Department of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan.
⁶ Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80756, Taiwan.
⁷ College of Professional Studies, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Pingtung 91201, Taiwan.

Abstract

This qualitative study explored the sexual orientation microaggression (SOM) experiences and coping strategies of lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals in Taiwan. In total, 30 LGB individuals (17 women and 13 men; 17 homosexual and 13 bisexual individuals) who experienced SOMs participated in qualitative, semistructured interviews, during which their SOM experiences were assessed. Through the interviews, several types of SOMs were identified, corresponding to three main types of microaggression (microassaults, microinsults, and microinvalidations) previously identified in Western studies. The participants reported various coping responses to SOMs, ranging from active responses to choosing not to respond, to protecting themselves or to minimizing the negative consequences of confrontation. The results provide mental health professionals with insight regarding the contexts of and coping responses to the SOMs experienced by LGB individuals.

Keywords: bisexual; gay; lesbian; mental health; microaggression; qualitative study; sexual orientation.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adaptation, Psychological
Bisexuality / psychology
Female
Homosexuality, Female* / psychology
Humans
Male
Microaggression
Sexual Behavior
Sexual and Gender Minorities*
Taiwan

Grants and funding

This research was funded by Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan (107-2314-B-037-102-MY3) and Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital (grants KMUH107-7R69, KMUH108-8R65 and KMUH109-9R77).