A cognitive-behavioral exploration of the psychological impact of the Australian Marriage Law postal survey: A reflexive thematic analysis.

Abstract

Marriage equality legislation was introduced in Australia in 2017 following a national survey of enrolled voters conducted via the postal system ("the postal survey"). Consistent with other major anti-LGBTQ rights campaigns, research has demonstrated that this event posed a unique source of social stress for LGBTQ people. This study seeks to expand the clinical utility of previous research by employing a cognitive-behavioral lens to explore the life stressors reported by LGBTQ Australians during the postal survey. During the postal survey period, a sample of 2,200 LGBTQ Australians answered the open-ended question, "Do you think the public discussion about marriage equality and the marriage equality postal survey has affected you and/or your family? If so, how?" Seven-hundred of these responses were randomly selected and analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Cognitive themes were hyperawareness of stigma, social and political exclusion, changes in self-perception, and fear of harm. Affective themes were anger, anxiety, and sadness. Behavioral themes were avoidance, changing social relationships, hiding identity, and preoccupation. The physiological theme was exhaustion. The results have implications for the assessment and treatment of LGBTQ people experiencing distress in the face of future anti-LGBTQ rights campaigns. Public Significance StatementPublic votes on the rights of LGBTQ people can pose unique challenges for LGBTQ individuals and communities. This study articulates the psychological impacts of one such vote on the topic of marriage equality in Australia. It extends previous research by applying a cognitive-behavioral lens to the results in the interests of increasing the utility of findings for clinical practice.

“Things Will Get Worse Before They Get Better”: LGBTQ + People’s Reactions to the 2020 US Presidential Election

“…The minority stress model (Brooks, 1981 ; Meyers, 2003 ) is a well-established model which explains how politics function as a source of structural stigma. We know from ample research that political discourse and public policies impacting LGBTQ + people’s rights have significant implications for LGBTQ + people’s health and functioning, including mental health and well-being, feelings of safety, substance abuse, suicidality, quality of people’s relationships with others, and physical health (Bartos et al, 2021 ; Casey et al, 2020 , 2021 ; Maisel & Fingerhut, 2011 ; Price et al, 2020 ; Riggle et al, 2009 ; Rostosky et al, 2009 , 2010 ). Our findings reinforce existing research and build upon emerging evidence that specific political events, such as elections, and specific political figures can themselves serve as sources of stress (Brown & Keller, 2018 ; Drabble et al, 2019 ; Garrison et al, 2018 ; Gonzalez et al, 2018b ; Lannutti, 2018 ; Price et al, 2020 ; Riggle et al, 2018 ; Veldhuis et al, 2018 ).…”

“…These additional, stigma-related stressors include the stress of anticipating and experiencing harassment, rejection, discrimination, and violence based on being LGBTQ + (Hendricks & Testa, 2012 ; Meyer, 1995 , 2003 ). As a result of increased stigma, LGBTQ + people may become isolated, hide their identity (be “closeted”), and internalize homophobia and transphobia (Casey et al, 2021 ; Hendricks & Testa, 2012 ; Meyer, 2003 ). Several recent reviews of the empirical literature have linked increased minority stress experiences with worse mental health (Mongelli et al, 2019 ; Valentine & Shipherd, 2018 ) and physical health (Flentje et al, 2020 ; Lick et al, 2013 ).…”

“…These strategies expose LGBTQ + people to negative messages about their lived experiences (Rostosky et al, 2009 ), are socially stigmatizing (Conrad, 1983 ; Fingerhut et al, 2011 ; Herek, 2011 ; Maisel & Fingerhut, 2011 ), and imply to LGBTQ + people that society devalues them (Anderson et al, 2020 ; Frost & Fingerhut, 2016 ; Levitt et al, 2009 ). Consequently, many LGBTQ + people find political debates over LGBTQ + rights to be a significant stressor (Casey et al, 2020 , 2021 ; Maisel & Fingerhut, 2011 ; Riggle et al, 2009 ; Rostosky et al, 2009 , 2010 ) which contributes to psychological distress above and beyond existing life stressors (Bartos et al, 2021 ; Ecker et al, 2019 ). Increases in distress occur even when the debated policies are not personally relevant; for instance, Flores and colleagues ( 2018 ) found that LGBTQ + people were negatively affected by televised political ads from a neighboring state.…”

COVID‐19 in Western Australia: ‘The last straw’ and hopes for a ‘new normal’ for parents of children with long‐term conditions

“…This is a method for identifying, analysing and reporting themes and patterns within data and is an appropriate approach for qualitatively exploring the life experiences of underrepresented groups. 36 This study is positioned within the interpretivist paradigm, using a reflexive approach. 37 Since the lived, subjective experiences of parents caring for children with long-term conditions was an interest, and understanding the meanings that participants attributed to their stress experiences, and the subjectivity of the researchers' perspectives is acknowledged, 34 reflexive thematic analysis was an appropriate methodology.…”

“…The data were analysed using Braun and Clarke's 34,35 reflexive thematic analysis. This is a method for identifying, analysing and reporting themes and patterns within data and is an appropriate approach for qualitatively exploring the life experiences of underrepresented groups 36 . This study is positioned within the interpretivist paradigm, using a reflexive approach 37 .…”