Title:
GENDER IDENTITY STIGMA, TEACHERS’ ACCEPTANCE, AND PARENTAL SUPPORT AS PREDICTORS OF MENTAL HEALTH AMONG SELF-IDENTIFIED LGBT SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

Authors:
Symon Carpiso (Carpiso) and Elmer De Jose (De Jose), Philippines

Abstract:
Background: Despite the growing global attention to LGBT mental health, a gap in healthcare research remains, particularly in the Philippine context, specifically among senior high school students Methods: The main purpose of the study was to investigate whether gender identity stigma, teachers’ acceptance, and parental support were predictors of mental health among LGBT senior high school students utilizing the predictive research design. A non-probability sampling, specifically the combination of convenience and snowball sampling was employed. A total of four hundred senior high school students participated in the study. Results: Results revealed that the gender identity stigma, teachers’ acceptance, and parental support significantly predict the mental health of the respondents (F (3, 396) = 37.695, p<.001. Specifically, Gender Identity Stigma (? = -.224, t = -4.542, p < .001) negatively predicted Overall Mental Health while both Teachers’ Acceptance (? = .201, t = 4.493, p < .001) and Parental Support (? = .253, t = 5.102, p < .001) positively predicted the Overall Mental Health. Conclusion: It was found out that Gender Identity Stigma, Teachers’ Acceptance, and Parental Support are predictors of mental health among LGBT senior high school students, this helped in developing intervention programs that will enhance the existing policy on gender and development in the education sector.