{"title":"The Impact of Provider Biphobia and Microaffirmations on Bisexual Individuals’ Treatment-Seeking Intentions","authors":"Renae DeLucia, N. G. Smith","doi":"10.1080/15299716.2021.1900020","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Bisexual individuals experience mental illness at higher rates than monosexual individuals. In addition, previous research has found that bisexual persons face documented discrimination from mental health providers. However, research is lacking in examining how negative experiences with providers impact attitudes toward mental health care utilization among bisexual clients. This study explores the associations between bisexual individuals’ level of outness with providers, experiences of provider biphobia, experiences of microaffirmations from providers, and help-seeking attitudes. We hypothesized that: (a) Anti-bisexual experiences from a mental health provider would mediate the relationship between outness and help-seeking intentions, and (b) Microaffirmations from a provider would mediate the relationship between outness and help-seeking intentions. Results indicated that greater outness with mental health providers predicted greater microaffirmation experiences from mental health providers. As expected, anti-bisexual experiences significantly and negatively impacted intent to seek mental health treatment. There was not evidence of mediation.","PeriodicalId":46888,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Bisexuality","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.8000,"publicationDate":"2021-03-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/15299716.2021.1900020","citationCount":"7","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Bisexuality","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15299716.2021.1900020","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"SOCIAL SCIENCES, INTERDISCIPLINARY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 7
Abstract
Abstract Bisexual individuals experience mental illness at higher rates than monosexual individuals. In addition, previous research has found that bisexual persons face documented discrimination from mental health providers. However, research is lacking in examining how negative experiences with providers impact attitudes toward mental health care utilization among bisexual clients. This study explores the associations between bisexual individuals’ level of outness with providers, experiences of provider biphobia, experiences of microaffirmations from providers, and help-seeking attitudes. We hypothesized that: (a) Anti-bisexual experiences from a mental health provider would mediate the relationship between outness and help-seeking intentions, and (b) Microaffirmations from a provider would mediate the relationship between outness and help-seeking intentions. Results indicated that greater outness with mental health providers predicted greater microaffirmation experiences from mental health providers. As expected, anti-bisexual experiences significantly and negatively impacted intent to seek mental health treatment. There was not evidence of mediation.
期刊介绍:
The Washington Quarterly (TWQ) is a journal of global affairs that analyzes strategic security challenges, changes, and their public policy implications. TWQ is published out of one of the world"s preeminent international policy institutions, the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), and addresses topics such as: •The U.S. role in the world •Emerging great powers: Europe, China, Russia, India, and Japan •Regional issues and flashpoints, particularly in the Middle East and Asia •Weapons of mass destruction proliferation and missile defenses •Global perspectives to reduce terrorism