The Impact of Identity Discrimination on LGBTs’ Mental Health and Coping Mechanism

Abstract

Gender identity discrimination occurs when one person is regarded less favorably than another in similar circumstances due to that person's gender preference. It does not matter if a person underwent medical treatment or what sex they were assigned at birth. Furthermore, discrimination can worsen a person's mental health and hinder or prevent them from receiving treatment (Mental Health Foundation, 2022). This study investigated the impact of identity discrimination on the mental health of LGBT students and their coping with it. A quantitative approach and descriptive method have been used as the research design of this study. The respondents consisted of fifty (50) LGBT students, in which the results were analyzed and interpreted by calculating the weighted mean of the frequency Likert scale. The weighted mean was utilized in interpreting the results. Based on the scores, the test showed if the stressors have an impact on the LGBT's mental health, with a result in variables of LGBT's Mental Health = 2.17, Discriminatory Acts = 2.11, and Coping Mechanism = 2.38. The study concluded that identity discrimination impacted the LGBT's mental health and coping mechanisms. Through analysis and data findings, the proponents of this study end up with four (4) conclusions.

First, the majority of the respondents range from eighteen (8) to twenty (20) years old, with a percentage of fifty- four (54%). Among the respondents' gender, most of them are bisexual, which has a percentage of sixty-eight (68%). This shows the results of this study's first statement of the problem. Second, most participants feel traumatized when other people touch any part of their body as a tease, which reflects the result of the statement of problem two (2). The third conclusion indicates the result for problem three (3) statement, where most respondents received offensive jokes from other people because of their behavior. Lastly, most of the respondents engage in advocacy to cope with the effect of identity discrimination. This reflects the answer to the fourth statement of the problem. The researchers of this study concluded some recommendations based on the findings, which can be seen after the conclusion part of this research paper.