This work has not been peer reviewed by the University of the Philippines Rainbow Research Hub or its project members. The views expressed are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the Hub or its project members.
2026 Philippine Queer Studies Conference
POSTER PRESENTATION
Understanding minority stress: Heterosexist experiences and psychological distress among Filipino lesbians
Johanna P. Abutar, Euclid C. Arrogancia, Ahna Richelle F. Castro, Chyll Nicole L. Noche, Edith G. Habig, and Marc Eric S. Reyes
Heterosexism, which is the systemic privileging of heterosexuality and marginalization of other sexual orientations, influences the everyday realities of LGBTQA+ individuals. Filipino lesbians, in particular, are often vulnerable to different forms of discrimination due to their “double-minority” position, which may lead to heightened levels of psychological distress. This issue remains underexplored empirically in the Philippines; hence, this study examined how different types of heterosexist experiences are linked to psychological distress among Filipino lesbians. Using a predictive cross-sectional design, we investigated whether heterosexism predicts psychological distress among 501 self-identified Filipino lesbians aged 18 to 26 years who completed the Daily Heterosexist Experiences Questionnaire (DHEQ) and the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10). Results revealed significant positive associations between psychological distress and the eight DHEQ subscales (stressors): (1) vigilance, (2) discrimination/harassment, (3) gender expression, (4) victimization, (5) family of origin, (6) vicarious trauma, (7) isolation, (8) concerns about HIV/ AIDS. Moreover, multiple regression analysis identified vigilance, gender expression, and vicarious trauma as significant predictors of psychological distress. These findings underscore the psychological impact of heterosexism among Filipino lesbians in the country, which emphasizes the need for more inclusive and culturally informed mental health strategies.