Relationship Between Bullying Experiences Related with Gender Identity, Sexual Orientation and Social Support and Psychological Well Being
Despite all the progress made in the Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transsexual (LGBT) area of study, especially where media representations are considered, violence, discrimination, and marginalization toward those individuals continues. Mental health studies report that LGBT individuals, as opposed to the general population, have higher rates of psychological and physiological problems. It is assumed that this situation occurs due to the adverse effects of exposure to the LGBT identity related with negative life experiences of these individuals on psychological well being. In the current paper negative life experiences, discrimination and the marginalizing experiences of LGBT individuals are discussed in relation to the concept of bullying. Bullying behaviors that are experienced by LGBT individuals due to their LGBT identities may have negative effects on their current and later life well being status via shaping their self perceptions and expectations about others. In this regard, this paper examined the effects of exposure to bullying and social support on the psychological well being of LGBT children and young adults. Firstly, the relationship between bullying experiences and LGBT identity was discussed. Secondly, the effects of the LGBT identity related to the exposure to bullying experiences on psychological wellbeing were examined. Thirdly, the role of social support in this process was considered. Lastly, bullying prevention strategies for LGBT people was mentioned.