The relationship between the life planning peculiarities and the neurotization level in women of different sexual orientations
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Abstract
The relevance. The problem of the psychological state of SM representatives is practically unexplored in Ukraine. SM members are potentially more psychologically vulnerable due to the stigmatization and aggressive treatment of heterosexual majorities, including close relatives.
The aim of the study was to find out how much women belonging to sexual minorities (SMs) differ in life style and life planning from heterosexual women, and how this is related to the level of neuroticism inherent them.
Research methods: form about life plans; graphic methods of assessing the significance of the past, present, future; L.I. Wasserman’s Scale for psychological express diagnostics of the neuroticism level. The study sample consisted of 50 women of heterosexual orientation, 76 bisexuals and 36 lesbians. Age range 16-46 years, median age - 23 years.
Results. The study identified the most vulnerable aspects of SM life planning that relate to low expectations of creating a family; shorter life expectancy and higher probability of suicide. At the same time, SM representatives have significantly more sexual partners. This can be explained by the lower pressure of restraining socio-cultural stereotypes of behavior within the SM community compared to traditional male-female relationships and the evolutionarily inherited propensity for a wider range of sexual contacts. The neuroticism at the lowest level was measured in women with traditional sexual orientation, much higher in lesbians, and the highest in bisexual women. This reflects the maladaptation of women in a society where the heterosexual vast majority have a negative attitude towards the diversity of existing sexual orientations.
Limitations of the study may be the small volume of the studied groups and their unevenness.
In the prospect, it is planned to study the personality features and values of SM representatives to find out how they are related to sexual orientation and life plans. The possibility of using the study results to improve the quality of psychological care and public awareness is the practical significance of the study. The results of the work can increase tolerance, inclusion, and acceptance of diversity in Ukraine.
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