Experiences of minority stress and mental health burdens of newly arrived LGBTQ* refugees in Germany

  • \(\bf Introduction\) While many refugees have settled in Germany within recent years, little is known about LGBTQ* (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans*, queer*) refugees, a potentially vulnerable group. This qualitative study investigated LGBTQ* refugees' experiences of distal and proximal minority stressors as well as their mental health burdens during the post-migration period. \(\bf Methods\) In 2018, 26 self-identified LGBTQ* refugees were recruited in community centers of different metropolitan areas of Germany and interviewed in three focus groups. Anonymized transcripts were analyzed using thematic analysis. \(\bf Results\) LGBTQ* refugees experienced discrimination based on their intersecting identities. Some described daily occurrences and higher rates in comparison with premigration. Moreover, LGBTQ* refugees reported expectations of rejection and thus concealed their identities, while some also demonstrated identity acceptance. Reported mental health burdens covered internalizing symptoms as well as low levels of well-being. \(\bf Conclusions\) Findings suggest that LGBTQ* refugees are especially vulnerable to multiple forms of discrimination based on their intersecting identities. For a subgroup of participants, both discrimination experiences and mental health burdens subjectively increased during post-migration. \(\textbf {Policy Implications}\) Our evidence substantiated that LGBTQ* refugees need to be distinctively acknowledged in social policies to counter their specific patterns of experienced discrimination and improve their mental health.

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Metadaten
Author:Jasmine GolembeGND, Birgit LeyendeckerORCiDGND, Nada MaalejGND, Annalena GundlachGND, Julian BuschORCiDGND
URN:urn:nbn:de:hbz:294-95542
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/s13178-020-00508-z
Parent Title (English):Sexuality research & social policy
Publisher:Springer Nature
Place of publication:New York
Document Type:Article
Language:English
Date of Publication (online):2023/01/02
Date of first Publication:2020/11/17
Publishing Institution:Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Universitätsbibliothek
Tag:Discrimination; Intersectionality; LGBTQ*; Mental health; Minority stress; Refugees
Volume:18
First Page:1049
Last Page:1059
Note:
Dieser Beitrag ist auf Grund des DEAL-Springer-Vertrages frei zugänglich.
Institutes/Facilities:Fakultät für Psychologie, Arbeitsgruppe Child and Family Research
Dewey Decimal Classification:Philosophie und Psychologie / Psychologie
open_access (DINI-Set):open_access
faculties:Fakultät für Psychologie
Licence (English):License LogoCreative Commons - CC BY 4.0 - Attribution 4.0 International