Grant: CIHR Fellowship

Despite their invisibility, mostly heterosexual (MH) people outnumber the sum of gay, lesbian, and bisexual people. MH refers to heterosexual people who sometimes have same-sex sexuality. It is estimated that 11-16% of women and 2-6% of men are MH, and that this proportion peaks in young adults. To date, no research has studied MH young adults in Canada. Alarmingly, however, MH people in the U.S. report more mental disorders than exclusively heterosexual (EH) people. This finding suggests that in Canada, there is likely a large group of young adults being overlooked by health researchers and professionals. In two studies, I propose to (1) investigate the mental health of MH first-year college students, for the first time in Canada, and (2) facilitate social integration and reduce mental health problems among them, using a brief online psychological intervention. Study 1 will prospectively examine mental health disparities between MH and EH first-year college students, as well as the underlying roles of social integration and internalized homophobia. Study 2 will use a one-session online video intervention, adapted from prior successful self-affirmation interventions, to ease transition into college and to narrow the mental health gap of MH young adults. The findings from this research can be used to develop healthcare policies and allocate resources to a disadvantaged group of Canadians who have been previously underrepresented. Our psychological intervention has the potential to reduce mental health disparities in stigmatized Canadians who experience same-sex sexuality.