Attachment style and perceived discrimination: Associations with depression among young lesbian, gay, and bisexual Romanian adults

Abstract

Purpose: This study aims to evaluate the importance of individual determinants (gender, age), attachment style, and perceived discrimination on depression among young lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) Romanians. Method: Participants comprised 374 young adults (172 men and 202 women; mean age = 25.75, SD = 7.78; 216 LGB and 158 heterosexuals). They completed the Adult Attachment Scale, the Beck Depression Inventory, and underwent a structured interview, designed to classify clinical depression, and measure the perceived discrimination in relation to their sexuality. Differences between groups were evaluated using the χ2 test (for the distribution of depressed individuals), the Mann–Whitney test (to compare the depression scores), a hierarchical linear regression analysis (to identify the predictors of depression), the F-test (to compare perceived discrimination in the LGB subgroups), and a moderation analysis (to test the interaction effects of attachment and sexual identity). Results: In the LGB group, the depression scores were higher ( U = 12.99, Z = −4.14, p < .0001) and the insecure attachment was more prevalent, χ2(2) = 25.66, p < .0001, than in heterosexuals. Perceived discrimination inside this group was skewed toward higher scores (mean = 5.68, SD = 2.58). Attachment style played the highest predictive role for depression (β = .352, p < .0001), followed by age (β = −.120, p < .012). The predictive effect of attachment on depression was not mediated by sexual orientation. Conclusion: Our study points out insecure attachment style and age as being important in the onset of depression in LGB individuals. This result can have implications for how depression is handled in these patients and the development of efficient care standards.

Adult Attachment, Differentiation of Self, and Relationship Satisfaction in Lesbians and Gay Men

“…In line with the literature's findings on adult attachment and same-sex relationships' well-being (e.g., Sommantico et al 2020;Fingerhut and Peplau 2013;Guzmán-González et al 2019;Mohr et al 2013;Popa-Velea et al 2019; Starks and Parsons 2014;Wright 2020), the results of our study showed a positive correlation between attachment insecurity and lower levels of relationship satisfaction. In fact, participants with insecure attachment patterns showed lower levels of relationship satisfaction, thus confirming the hypothesis regarding the important role of the attachment system in relationship satisfaction.…”

“…Taken together, these research findings indicate the relevance of deeply understanding the association between adult attachment and relationship satisfaction in Italian sexual minority populations, taking into account the stated influence of minority stress on adult attachment and relationship satisfaction (e.g., Sommantico et al 2018;Cao et al 2017;Cook and Calebs 2016;LeBlanc et al 2015;Gonçalves et al 2020;Fassinger 2003, 2006;Popa-Velea et al 2019;Šević et al 2016;Wright 2020). We can do so by focusing in particular on the role played by differentiation of self, a variable whose role has never been analyzed in sexual minority populations.…”

“…Despite the fact that the international literature on attachment in same-sex couples is relatively sparse, several studies have found evidence of the positive association between relationship satisfaction and lower levels of anxiety and avoidance (e.g., Sommantico et al 2020;Fingerhut and Peplau 2013;Guzmán-González et al 2019;Mohr and Jackson 2016;Mohr et al 2013;Starks et al 2015;Starks and Parsons 2014). Furthermore, research findings have indicated a positive association between attachment insecurity and negative identity, as well as a strong connection between stress-related variables, such as attachment insecurity and internalized sexual stigma (e.g., Sommantico et al 2020;Fassinger 2003, 2006;Popa-Velea et al 2019;Šević et al 2016).…”

Psychological Variables Associated with HPV Vaccination Intent in Romanian Academic Settings

“…Globally, in the Romanian population, decisions about HPV vaccination seem mostly influenced by negative emotions (possibly generated by the insufficient information provided by the health system and by a negative campaign carried out by mass media [32,34]), which far outweigh the gaps in knowledge about HPV infection and HPV vaccine [35]. Vulnerable women are exposed to an even higher risk of contracting HPV and may feel embarrassed to freely disclose their frail medical and psychological status [36,37].…”

The Impact of Self-Efficacy, Optimism, Resilience and Perceived Stress on Academic Performance and Its Subjective Evaluation: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…Consequently, many medical students may lose, throughout studies, the track of their initial motivation to pursue this career [24][25][26], while a gap may occur and widen between the objective evaluation of their abilities and their subjective self-evaluation [27]. This discrepancy may represent an additional reason for self-doubt and unhappiness in students pertaining to vulnerable groups [28,29].…”