Rowalt Alibudbud

Supporting LGBTQ+ Mental Health in Southeast Asia: A Compilation of Research and Resources

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Rowalt Alibudbud is compiling publications on issues he cares deeply about. This collection aims to support research, education, and advocacy for LGBTQ+ mental health in the Southeast Asian context, especially the Philippines.

Discriminatory laws and social exclusion across the Southeast Asian (ASEAN) region continue to negatively affect the mental health and well-being of LGBTQ+ people. Criminalization, lack of legal gender recognition, absence of relationship rights, and weak anti-discrimination protections expose LGBTQ+ individuals to chronic stigma, fear, and marginalization, increasing risks of depression, anxiety, self-harm, and suicide. These structural barriers, shaped by colonial histories, religious influence, and sociocultural norms, limit access to safety, healthcare, and social support. Advancing decriminalization, gender recognition, inclusive legal protections, and LGBTQ+ affirming mental health services is essential to promoting well-being, dignity, and human rights for LGBTQ+ communities throughout Southeast Asia.

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LGBT+ mental health in the Philippines

1. Alibudbud R. C. (2021). “Does Sexual Orientation Matter?”: A Comparative Analysis of the Prevalence and Determinants of Depression and Anxiety Among Heterosexual and Non-Heterosexual College Students in a Univesity in Metro Manila. Journal of homosexuality, 1–19. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/00918369.2021.2015953
2. Alibudbud R. (2023). Gender in mental health: Comparison of the rate and social factors of depression, anxiety, and stress among young adult Filipino heterosexual cisgender men and women and LGBT+ individuals. The International journal of social psychiatry, 69(2), 430–437. https://doi.org/10.1177/00207640221106874
3. Cleofas, J. V., & Alibudbud, R. C. (2023). Emerging From a Two-Year-Long Quarantine: A Retrospective Study on Life Satisfaction Trajectory and Depression Among Young LGBTQ+ Students in the Philippines. SAGE open nursing, 9, 23779608231158980. https://doi.org/10.1177/23779608231158980
4. Manalastas, E. J. (2013). Sexual orientation and suicide risk in the Philippines: Evidence from a nationally representative sample of young Filipino men. Philippine Journal of Psychology, 46(1), 1-13.
5. Manalastas, E. J. (2016). Suicide ideation and suicide attempt among young lesbian and bisexual Filipina women: Evidence for disparities in the Philippines. Asian Women, 32(3), 101-120.
6. Manalastas, E. J., & Del Pilar, G. E. (2005). Filipino attitudes toward lesbians and gay men: Secondary analysis of 1996 and 2001 national survey data. Philippine Journal of Psychology, 38(2).
7. Manalastas, E. J., Ojanen, T. T., Torre, B. A., Ratanashevorn, R., Hong, B. C. C., Kumaresan, V., & Veeramuthu, V. (2017).
8. Homonegativity in southeast Asia: Attitudes toward lesbians and gay men in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore,
9. Thailand, and Vietnam. Asia-Pacific Social Science Review, 17(1), 25-33.
10. Meyer I. H. (2003). Prejudice, social stress, and mental health in lesbian, gay, and bisexual populations: conceptual issues and research evidence. Psychological bulletin, 129(5), 674–697. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.129.5.674
11. Pachankis, J. E., Mahon, C. P., Jackson, S. D., Fetzner, B. K., & Bränström, R. (2020). Sexual orientation concealment and mental health: A conceptual and meta-analytic review. Psychological bulletin, 146(10), 831–871. https://doi.org/10.1037/bul0000271

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Minority Stress

1. Holman E. G. (2018). Theoretical Extensions of Minority Stress Theory for Sexual Minority Individuals in the Workplace: A Cross-Contextual Understanding of Minority Stress Processes. Journal of family theory & review, 10(1), 165–180. https://doi.org/10.1111/jftr.12246
2. Meyer I. H. (2003). Prejudice, social stress, and mental health in lesbian, gay, and bisexual populations: conceptual issues and research evidence. Psychological bulletin, 129(5), 674–697. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.129.5.674

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Identity Concealment

1. Pachankis, J. E., & Bränström, R. (2018). Hidden from happiness: Structural stigma, sexual orientation concealment, and life satisfaction across 28 countries. Journal of consulting and clinical psychology, 86(5), 403–415. https://doi.org/10.1037/ccp0000299
2. Pachankis, J. E., Mahon, C. P., Jackson, S. D., Fetzner, B. K., & Bränström, R. (2020). Sexual orientation concealment and mental health: A conceptual and meta-analytic review. Psychological bulletin, 146(10), 831–871. https://doi.org/10.1037/bul0000271

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Gender affirmation

1. Bränström, R., & Pachankis, J. E. (2020). Reduction in Mental Health Treatment Utilization Among Transgender Individuals After Gender-Affirming Surgeries: A Total Population Study. The American journal of psychiatry, 177(8), 727–734. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.2019.19010080
2. Chen, D., Berona, J., Chan, Y. M., Ehrensaft, D., Garofalo, R., Hidalgo, M. A., Rosenthal, S. M., Tishelman, A. C., & Olson-Kennedy, J. (2023). Psychosocial Functioning in Transgender Youth after 2 Years of Hormones. The New England journal of medicine, 388(3), 240–250. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2206297
3. Correction to Bränström and Pachankis. (2020). The American journal of psychiatry, 177(8), 734. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.2020.1778correction

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Intersectionality

1. Daley, A., Solomon, S., Newman, P. A., & Mishna, F. (2007). Traversing the margins: Intersectionalities in the bullying of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth. Journal of Gay & Lesbian Social Services: Issues in Practice, Policy & Research, 19(3-4), 9–29. https://doi.org/10.1080/10538720802161474

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Discrimination and other adverse experiences in various settings affecting LGBT+ mental health

1. United Nations Development Programme & United States Agency for International Development. Being LGBT in Asia: The Philippines Country Report [Internet]. United Nations Development Programme. 2014. Available from:  https://www.undp.org/publications/being-lgbt-asia-philippine-country-report?
2. Human Rights Watch. “Just let us be” discrimination against LGBT students in the Philippines [Internet]. 2017. Available from: https://www.hrw.org/report/2017/06/21/just-let-us-be/discrimi nation-against-lgbt-students-Philippines

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LGBT+ mental health disparities in the Philippines

1. Alibudbud RC. “Does Sexual Orientation Matter?”: A Comparative Analysis of the Prevalence and Determinants of Depression and Anxiety Among Heterosexual and Non-Heterosexual College Students in a University in Metro Manila. J Homosex. 2023 May 12;70(6):1119-1137. doi: 10.1080/00918369.2021.2015953. Epub 2021 Dec 20. PMID: 34928782.
2. Alibudbud R. Gender in mental health: Comparison of the rate and social factors of depression, anxiety, and stress among young adult Filipino heterosexual cisgender men and women and LGBT+ individuals. Int J Soc Psychiatry. 2023 Mar;69(2):430-437. doi: 10.1177/00207640221106874. Epub 2022 Jun 22. PMID: 35734786.
3. Alibudbud R. Gender in mental health: Comparing the rate and social factors of depression, anxiety, and stress among young heterosexual and sexual minority women in the Philippines. J Lesbian Stud. 2023;27(1):74-88. doi: 10.1080/10894160.2022.2091731. Epub 2022 Jun 25. PMID: 35757983.
4. Alibudbud R. Gender in mental health: Relationship of spirituality, social support, and COVID-19-related fear among heterosexual and LGBTQ+ youth. Front Sociol. 2023 Jan 4;7:1102664. doi: 10.3389/fsoc.2022.1102664. PMID: 36687008; PMCID: PMC9846850.
5. Cleofas JV, Alibudbud RC. Emerging From a Two-Year-Long Quarantine: A Retrospective Study on Life Satisfaction Trajectory and Depression Among Young LGBTQ+ Students in the Philippines. SAGE Open Nurs. 2023 Feb 23;9:23779608231158980. doi: 10.1177/23779608231158980. PMID: 36861049; PMCID: PMC9969438.
6. Reyes ME, Victorino MC, Chua AP, Oquendo FY, Puti AS, Reglos AA, McCutcheon LE. Perceived parental support as a protective factor against suicidal ideation of self-identified lesbian and gay Filipino adolescents. North American Journal of Psychology. 2015 Jun 1;17(2):245-50.
7. Reyes ME, Lanic PJ, Lavadia EN, Tactay EF, Tiongson ER, Tuazon PJ, McCutcheon LE. Self-stigma, self-concept clarity, and mental health status of Filipino LGBT individuals. North American Journal of Psychology. 2015 Jun 1;17(2):343-50.
8. Reyes ME, Davis RD, David AJ, Del Rosario CJ, Dizon AP, Fernandez JL, Viquiera MA. Stigma burden as a predictor of suicidal behavior among lesbians and gays in the Philippines. Suicidology Online. 2017 Jul 1;8(26):1-0.
9. Reyes, M. E. S., Davis, R. D., Dacanay, P. M. L., Antonio, A. S. B., Beltran, J. S. R., Chuang, M. D., & Leoncito, A. L. I. (2017). The presence of self-stigma, perceived stress, and suicidal ideation among selected LGBT Filipinos. Psychological Studies, 62, 284-290.
10. Manalastas EJ, Torre BA. LGBT psychology in the Philippines. Psychology of sexualities review. 2016;7(1):60-72.
11. Manalastas EJ. Sexual orientation and suicide risk in the Philippines: Evidence from a nationally representative sample of young Filipino men. Philippine Journal of Psychology. 2013;46(1):1-3.
12. Manalastas EJ. Suicide ideation and suicide attempt among young lesbian and bisexual Filipina women: Evidence for disparities in the Philippines. Asian Women. 2016 Sep;32(3):101-20. doi:10.14431/aw.2016.09.32.3.101

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LGBT+ Mental health in the ASEAN