Sexual minority stressors and internalised prejudices

New knowledge on internalised prejudice for same-sex attracted Australians

2024-2026

This project aims to conduct the first nation-wide investigation of internalised sexual and gender based prejudice – a key factor driving the health and wellbeing disparities experienced by same-sex attracted and trans Australians. The project expects to generate new knowledge around the internalisation of past experiences of sexual and trans prejudice.

Expected outcomes include advanced measurement techniques of conscious and non-conscious prejudice, significant advances in understandings of the causes and consequences of internalised sexual prejudice, and an enhanced capacity for international collaborations.

This should provide significant benefits for same-sex attracted Australians, and for the health, government, and community support sectors working with them.

Awards

International Academy of Sex Research
Research Award 2025
Awarded by the American Institute of Bisexuality – for research on minority stress and erasure experiences of bi+ individuals.

Associated publications

Anderson, J. R. (2025). Beyond the binary: On the multiplicity of sex and gender in a Western-centric world. Archives of Sexual Behaviour.

Anderson, J. R., … Tan, K. J. (2025). The Costs and Benefits of ‘Passing’: A Systematic Review of the Qualitative Evidence on Passing for Trans Individuals and Communities. Sex Roles.

McCole, A. R., & Anderson, J. R. (2025). “Not Queer Enough”: A Systematic Review of the Literature Exploring Experiences of Bi-Erasure. Journal of Bisexuality.

Anderson, J. R., Bondarchuk-McLaughlin, A., Rosa, S., Goldschlager, K. D., & Jordan, D. H. (2025). A qualitative exploration of the experiences of disclosing non-monogamy. Archives of Sexual Behavior.

Thai, M., Dawson, N., Grey, W., & Anderson, J. R. (2025). “No Asians” Because “No Femmes”? Racial Preferences in Gay White Australian Men and Their Relationship with Preferences for Masculinity and Femininity. The Journal of Sex Research.

McCole, A. R., Thai, M., & Anderson, J. R. (2025). “An Extra Set of Bits for Your Fantasy”: A Qualitative Exploration of Bi+ Women’s Fetishization Experiences. Journal of Bisexuality.

Anderson, J. R., Hinton, J. D., Bondarchuk-McLaughlin, A., Rosa, S., Tan, K. J., & Moor, L. (2025). Countering the Monogamy-Superiority Myth: A Meta-Analysis of the Differences in Relationship Satisfaction and Sexual Satisfaction as a Function of Relationship Orientation. The Journal of Sex Research. .

Mercieca, B., & Anderson, J. R. (2025). ‘I’d rather be dead than gay:’ A qualitative exploration of the lived experiences of sexually and gender diverse Christians in Australia. Psychology & Sexuality.

Mercieca, B., & Anderson, J.R. (2025). A systematic review of identity management strategies for religious people who are sexually and gender diverse. Psychology & Sexuality.

Anderson, J.R., Toussaint, D. J., & Gerace, A. (2024). An exploration of the psychological benefits of participation in LGBTQ sport. Academic Journal of Sports Science & Medicine. Click here.

Anderson, J.R., Hinton, J., Darke, N., & Jones, T. (2024). Moral injury for LGBTQ+ individuals and communities. Current Treatment Options in Psychiatry.

Tan, K. J., & Anderson, J.R. (2024). Internalized Sexual Stigma and Mental Health Outcomes for Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Asian Americans: The Moderating Role of Guilt and Shame. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.

Hässler, T., Fogwell, N. T., Gonzalez, A., Anderson, J.R., & Atwood, S. (2024). Reimagining LGBTIQ+ research–Acknowledging differences across subpopulations, methods, and countries. Journal of Social Issues.

Nguyen, J., Anderson, J. R., & Pepping, C. A. (2024). A systematic review and research agenda of internalized sexual stigma in sexual minority individuals: Evidence from longitudinal and intervention studies. Clinical Psychology Review.

Funding

This research is funded by an Australian Research Council DECRA grant.