Perceived Social Support Mediates the Negative Impact of Insecure Attachment Orientations on Internalized Homophobia in Gay Men

Calvo, Vincenzo; Cusinato, Maria; Meneghet, Natasha; Miscioscia, Marina

doi:10.1080/00918369.2020.1734378

Cited by 13 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 86 publications

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“…Perceiving negative social representations of gay men in one's social context is itself psychologically harmful as this may increase the state of hypervigilance observed in some gay men (Jolley & Jaspal, 2020;Meyer, 2003). Perceived negative social representations of gay men is in turn likely to accentuate the psychological and emotional effects of challenging experiences, such as coming out as gay to a significant other (Berg et al, 2016;Calvo et al, 2020;Wang et al, 2021). If one believes social representations of gay men are negative, one will experience more negative affect in recalling a negative coming out experience as the negative cognitions will reinforce the negative affect.…”

Section: Homonegativitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Identity resilience, social support and internalised homonegativity in gay men

Jaspal

Breakwell

2022

Psychology & Sexuality

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Identity resilience, a key concept in identity process theory (IPT), refers to individuals' capacity to cope with threats to their identity. Identity resilience is based upon four identity principles: self-efficacy; self-esteem; positive distinctiveness; and, continuity. This study investigates whether identity resilience influences how much gay men internalise homonegativity. Given the insidious effects of internalised homonegativity upon psychological well-being, it is important to identify factors affecting its management. Greater identity resilience enables deployment of strategies that may reduce internalisation of homonegativity. These strategies include rejecting the salience of negative social representations of gay men and emphasising the availability of social support. While both these strategies affect how 'out' a gay man chooses to be, they are also linked to the experience of everyday discrimination. We predicted identity resilience would have both a direct negative association with internalised homonegativity and an indirect negative effect mediated by higher social support, lower everyday discrimination, and, less perceived negative representations of gay men and greater 'outness'. Survey data from 333 gay men in the UK supported this model. Fostering the development of identity resilience and its attendant coping strategies may help in managing internalisation of homonegativity.

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Section: Homonegativitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Identity resilience, social support and internalised homonegativity in gay men

Jaspal

Breakwell

2022

Psychology & Sexuality

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“…In contrast, people with insecure attachment shown negative self-other representation that can make them vulnerable to the internalization of sexual stigma. Accordingly, attachment anxiety was found to be positively associated with internalized homonegativity among both lesbian and gay people ( Keleher et al, 2010 ; Calvo et al, 2020 ). As proposed by several authors ( Calvo et al, 2020 ; Collins and Levitt, 2021 ), people with higher levels of attachment anxiety relies on others for personal evaluation, are sensitive to rejections, and have a negative self-representation ( Santona et al, 2021 ) that can expose them to a self-devaluation through the internalization of social homonegative attitudes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Accordingly, attachment anxiety was found to be positively associated with internalized homonegativity among both lesbian and gay people ( Keleher et al, 2010 ; Calvo et al, 2020 ). As proposed by several authors ( Calvo et al, 2020 ; Collins and Levitt, 2021 ), people with higher levels of attachment anxiety relies on others for personal evaluation, are sensitive to rejections, and have a negative self-representation ( Santona et al, 2021 ) that can expose them to a self-devaluation through the internalization of social homonegative attitudes. According with the Integrated Attachment and Sexual Minority Stress Model ( Cook and Calebs, 2016 ), it can be supposed that these internalized attitudes can further strengthen a negative representation of the self, following a vicious circle that can result in the development of an insecure attachment and negatively impact psychological wellbeing ( Cook and Calebs, 2016 ; Collins and Levitt, 2021 ; Shenkman et al, 2021 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Some recent studies suggest that internalized homonegativity is influenced by romantic attachment ( Jellison and McConnell, 2003 ; Keleher et al, 2010 ; Ingoglia et al, 2019 ; Calvo et al, 2020 ). People with a secure attachment have positive self-other representation, and psychic and relational resources that can promote acceptance of one’s sexual identity and protect them from internalized homonegativity ( Calvo et al, 2020 ; Collins and Levitt, 2021 ). In contrast, people with insecure attachment shown negative self-other representation that can make them vulnerable to the internalization of sexual stigma.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Attachment avoidance has been found to be related with increased levels of internalized sexual stigma among LG people as well ( Keleher et al, 2010 ; Calvo et al, 2020 ). Although these results can be counterintuitive due to their positive self-representation, people with higher levels of attachment avoidance may show only an illusory positive self-evaluation and independence, which masks a fear of being refused and abandoned by the partner ( Mikulincer and Shaver, 2005 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Romantic Attachment, Internalized Homonegativity, and Same-Sex Intimate Partner Violence Perpetration Among Lesbian Women in Italy

et al. 2022

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Same-Sex Intimate Partner Violence (SSIPV) among lesbian women has been underestimated until few decades ago. While the association between romantic attachment and SSIPV has been widely demonstrated, mechanisms that mediate this association and the complex relationships between romantic attachment, SSIPV, and SSIPV-specific risk factors have not been adequately investigated to date. The current study assessed the influence of romantic attachment on SSIPV perpetration among lesbian women, exploring the mediating role of internalized homonegativity within this association. Three hundred and twenty-five Italian lesbian women with a mean age of 30 years were recruited and completed the following self-report measures: the Experiences in Close Relationships-Revised (ECR-R), the Measure of Internalized Sexual Stigma, and the Revised Conflict Tactics Scale Short Form. The results showed a positive association between attachment anxiety, and general and psychological SSIPV perpetration. Similarly, attachment avoidance was positively related with general, psychological, and physical SSIPV perpetration. The association between romantic attachment, and general and psychological SSIPV was partially mediated by internalized homonegativity. These findings have theoretical implications and provide valuable information to implement services and interventions tailored for SSIPV, to date scarce and not effective.

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Attachment Matching and Coparental Interactions in Same-Sex and Different-Sex Couples Planning Parenthood

Miscioscia

Carli

Sacchi

et al. 2021

Prenatal Family Dynamics

Self Cite

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The present study focuses upon an early step in the transition to parenthood when partners start to plan their pregnancies. We aim to understand the determinants of coparenting in a triadic interactive system prior to conception, exploring the role of partners' attachment histories in their coordination of pre-conception coparenting behaviours. We also wondered how dyadic adjustment of the conjugal couple might interact with partners' attachment similarity in predicting coparenting behaviour. We recruited 111 unmarried Lesbian, Gay and Heterosexuals couples across Italy (N = 49) and Belgium (N = 62), resulting in 222 total participants (64 Gay; 62 Lesbians; 96 Heterosexuals). For each couple, we computed a Couple Average Attachment Security (CAAS) score and a Couple Difference in Attachment Security (CDAS) score. Our results revealed a significant interaction effect between couples' average attachment security and their intra-couple differences in attachment security. We found that partners' average level of attachment security impacted their pre-conception coparental alliance, only when both partners had similar levels of attachment security. Results showed that similar patterns of attachment security between partners predicted the quality of coparental interactions irrespective of whether the potential parenting couple comprised two mothers, two fathers or a heterosexual mother and father.

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Perceived Social Support Mediates the Negative Impact of Insecure Attachment Orientations on Internalized Homophobia in Gay Men

Cited by 13 publications

References 86 publications

Identity resilience, social support and internalised homonegativity in gay men

Identity resilience, social support and internalised homonegativity in gay men

Romantic Attachment, Internalized Homonegativity, and Same-Sex Intimate Partner Violence Perpetration Among Lesbian Women in Italy

Attachment Matching and Coparental Interactions in Same-Sex and Different-Sex Couples Planning Parenthood

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