Homoseksualiteit, islam, angst en depressie

Abstract

Abstract In this Dutch study the relationship between homosexuality, Islam, anxiety and depression is examined. 258 Participants participated in a survey. They were asked to fill in two questionnaires, the ZBV (Dutch version of the STAI), which measures anxiety symptoms, and the CES-D, which measures depression symptoms. Four different groups where used to examine the difference in anxiety and depression symptoms. The experimental group existed of homosexual Islamic immigrants and the control groups existed of heterosexual Islamic immigrants, heterosexual non-Islamic natives and homosexual non-Islamic natives. Hypotheses were formulated that, in line with the Minority Stress Model by Meyer (1995), homosexual Islamic immigrants would have more anxiety and depression symptoms than all control groups. Results show that the homosexual Islamic immigrants report more anxiety and depression symptoms compared to heterosexual non-Islamic natives, but not more compared to homosexual non-Islamic natives and heterosexual Islamic immigrants. Although some of the hypotheses were not confirmed, research on immigrants and homosexuality show an increased risk of mental health problems for both groups. Along with the social disapproval of homosexuality in non-Westerns cultures and reports of severe mental health problems by Islamic homosexual immigrants in qualitative interviews, it seems that the non-confirmation of the hypotheses lies within the limitations of research in this complex field, such as a small snowball-sampled number of participants and a lack of measurement instruments designed to measure the specific problems of this vulnerable group. Research on this subject and healthcare for this group is limited, which calls for more awareness and political reconsiderations on subsidies.