Health Psychology & Pride! Where is LGBTQI+ in health psychology?

Abstract

People who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, and people who hold other marginalised sexual or gender identities (LGBTQI+) often experience notable health disparities. These disparities arise due to a complex interplay between social, cultural, structural, and political factors. Yet, within the European Health Psychology Society (EHPS), queer-related topics, especially those beyond the scope of gay men and men who have sex with men, have received relatively little attention. Therefore a roundtable focused on this topic was organised during the 2023 EHPS conference to (1) briefly present various projects as examples of how health psychology has and can make a positive contribution to LGBTQI+ health, (2) map out why LGBTQI+ issues receive relatively less attention within health psychology and what other areas can learn from decades of work focusing on LGBTQI+ health, and (3) generate new broad research goals to give new impetus to LGBTQI+ focused research within health psychology. The discussion focused on four broad themes: (1) assessment and measurement of LGBTQI+-related characteristics and data analysis, (2) labelling and the potential for ‘othering’, (3) balancing idealism, activism, and scientific discourse, and (4) balancing individual and environmental foci and the role of interdisciplinary teams. While the roundtable sparked an in-depth discussions of LGBTQI+ topics within health psychology, there remains a critical need for a more comprehensive exploration of this topic.

Thomas Gültzow

Assistant Professor Societal Transition & Behaviour Change

I am a passionate researcher in the field of behaviour and decision making, specialising in informed decision making, behaviour change, and the influence of digital communication and interventions.