Self-compassion in mental health outcomes for bisexual and lesbian women

LGBTIQA+ women, especially bisexual women, face higher risks of depression than heterosexual women and sexual minority men. Researchers from Charles Sturt University’s School of Psychology studied the role of self-compassion in lessening depressive symptoms among lesbian and bisexual women across the world.

A survey of 498 bisexual and 416 lesbian women revealed that bisexual women had lower self-compassion, more internalised heterosexism, and more severe depressive symptoms than lesbian women. Higher levels of self-compassion were directly related to reduced depressive symptoms and indirectly related via lower internalised heterosexism, irrespective of sexual orientation.

The findings suggest that despite differences in minority stress and depressive symptoms, self-compassion serves an important protective function against depression for lesbian and bisexual women.

This research highlights the importance of increasing bisexual and lesbian women’s self-compassion in therapy and its potential for shaping better mental health outcomes for sexual minority women.