Two Asssignments SC

Introduction and Literature Review: Minority Stress Determines the Prevalence of Addiction to Substance Abuse among Young Sexual Minorities.

Introduction

The question of whether sexual orientation can be equated to a case of mental illness or just another perspective to sexuality remains thorny. To the opponents of the possibility of a third sexual orientation, human beings in their basic form as animals should be straight. Nonetheless, many more people are coming out to declare their “queer” sexual orientations (Plöderl & Tremblay, 2015). In this regard, there is continued stigmatization of the group that subscribes to the “unnatural” tendencies. Particularly, there is systemic discrimination as well as outright prejudice against sexual minorities.

As a result of the continued stigmatization, there are numerous cases of minority stress which this group of people goes through. Goldbach, Tanner-Smith, Bagwell & Dunlap (2014) observed that the intensity of minority stress is directly proportional to the relationship between the minorities and the wider society. This is to say that increased despise, prejudice and discrimination compounds the minority stress which later morphs into depression. To exit the depression, at least momentarily, members of this group resort to substance abuse which later transforms into an addiction.

Problem

Discrimination and prejudice push sexual minorities into loneliness, which culminates in depression. As earlier explained, depression leaves the victims helpless and susceptible to anything that will make them feel better, even just for minutes. In essence, this is to say that the end result of the minority stress is drug abuse and possible addiction. From the foregoing, this article will focus on the relationship between minority stress and substance abuse among sexual minorities. In particular, the author will seek to examine the susceptibility of young adults to the use of drugs in the face of minority stress.

Objective

The question of whether there is a link between the mental stress and physical loneliness that sexual minorities go through and the probability of them turning out to be chronic substance abusers is the primary objective of this study. In addition, the study will endeavor to investigate if this minority stress plays a significant role in the rate at which members of this group recover from episodes of mental illness.

Approach

In essence, this study will require non-numerical data that will be collected via the observation method as well as surveys. As such, the researcher will follow the qualitative approach. This way, the study will collect qualitative data that is easy to analyze. Further, the approach guarantees an objective point of view of the problem through the experience of the victims. Interviews, questionnaires and focus groups will spearhead the information gathering process.

Literatures Review

Minorities as a topical issue transcends centuries. According to Dench (2017), every open society has a group that makes the smallest number of a population. Oftentimes, such a group is underrepresented and often oppressed. Tomasi (2017) shared Dench’s sentiments with the assertion that as society advances, cases of cultural minorities abound. Interestingly, there seems to be a common trend among the minorities which is that they get more isolated as the surrounding society narrative deepens into despise and possible hatred for the particular aspects that define the minority groups.

However, Galupo, Davis, Grynkiewicz & Mitchell (2014) noted that sexual minorities are a new minority group is gaining currency. Interestingly, the topic of sexual minorities is getting more amplified as more people come out of hiding to declare their “unnatural” sexual preferences. Further, society is getting much divided as governments move to legitimize the minorities hence giving them the platform to advance their rights. However, the recognition is seemingly not enough as discrimination against sexual minorities is only going up. Also, the type of discrimination that this group is constantly coming in contact with is evolving (Woodford, Han, Craig, Lim & Matney, 2014).

As a result of the discrimination, members of this group are increasing encountering episodes of minority stress. According to Plöderl & Tremblay (2015), minority stress is the single most prevalent cause of mental health issues among sexual minorities. For instance, a young homosexual man in college is more likely to face discrimination if he comes out clearly about the orientation. Subsequently, the young man is quite likely to slide into depression. Hatzenbuehler, Bellatorre, Lee, Finch, Muennig & Fiscella (2014) wrote that the structural stigma that results in depression often eggs the victims on into substance abuse. As their bodies get conditioned to the substances, it becomes difficult for the minorities to unhook themselves from the addiction. Eventually, the vicious cycle of depression and substance addiction throws the victims into the deeper end of mental illness that eventually terminates at death. From the foregoing, one can safely conclude that minority stress has a great influence on substance abuse. Interestingly, the link between the two is a mental illness that asserts itself through depression.

References

Dench, G. (2017). Minorities in an Open Society. Routledge.

Galupo, M. P., Davis, K. S., Grynkiewicz, A. L., & Mitchell, R. C. (2014). Conceptualization of sexual orientation identity among sexual minorities: Patterns across sexual and gender identity. Journal of Bisexuality, 14(3-4), 433-456.

Goldbach, J. T., Tanner-Smith, E. E., Bagwell, M., & Dunlap, S. (2014). Minority stress and substance use in sexual minority adolescents: A meta-analysis. Prevention Science, 15(3), 350-363.

Hatzenbuehler, M. L., Bellatorre, A., Lee, Y., Finch, B. K., Muennig, P., & Fiscella, K. (2014). Structural stigma and all-cause mortality in sexual minority populations. Social Science & Medicine, 103, 33-41.

Plöderl, M., & Tremblay, P. (2015). Mental health of sexual minorities. A systematic review. International review of psychiatry, 27(5), 367-385.

Tomasi, J. (2017). Kymlicka, liberalism, and respect for cultural minorities. In Indigenous Rights (pp. 123-146). Routledge.

Woodford, M. R., Han, Y., Craig, S., Lim, C., & Matney, M. M. (2014). Discrimination and mental health among sexual minority college students: The type and form of discrimination does matter. Journal of Gay & Lesbian Mental Health, 18(2), 142-163.