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ISSN: 1549-3652 (Print)
ISSN: 1558-6987 (Online)
Research Article Open Access

Does it Get Better?: Childhood Bullying and the Positive Mental Health of LGBT Canadians in Adulthood

Tamara Edkins1, Tracey Peter1, Catherine Taylor2, Frank Cormier1 and Janice Ristock1
  • 1 University of Manitoba, Canada
  • 2 University of Winnipeg, Canada

Abstract

Globally, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) individuals are a highly discriminated group. Few academics have explored whether LGBTQ youth who experience discrimination can “get better”, especially with respect to their positive mental health. Using minority stress theory, the current study explored whether there was a long-term relationship between childhood bullying and positive mental health in adulthood among LGBTQ individuals. The results suggest that there was a negative long-term relationship, wherein participants bullied in childhood displayed lower levels of positive mental health in adulthood. Suggestions for practices to promote positive mental health among LGBTQ individuals are then discussed, followed by suggestions for future research.

Journal of Social Sciences
Volume 14 No. 1, 2018, 70-80

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3844/jssp.2018.70.80

Submitted On: 10 September 2017 Published On: 10 February 2018

How to Cite: Edkins, T., Peter, T., Taylor, C., Cormier, F. & Ristock, J. (2018). Does it Get Better?: Childhood Bullying and the Positive Mental Health of LGBT Canadians in Adulthood. Journal of Social Sciences, 14(1), 70-80. https://doi.org/10.3844/jssp.2018.70.80

Open AccessCopyright: © 2018 Tamara Edkins, Tracey Peter, Catherine Taylor, Frank Cormier and Janice Ristock. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

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Keywords

  • LGBTQ
  • Minority Stress
  • Enacted Stigma
  • Positive Mental Health