Experienceing bisexual identity : the effect of identity threat and identity verification on bisexual individuals

Ph.D. University of Hawaii at Manoa 2014.Includes bibliographical references.Bisexuality and bisexual identity are underrepresented within the realm of psychological research. For instance, when considering all of the journal articles published on the topic of same-sex experience, only 16% of those articles mention bisexuality in their title (Rosenthal, 2012). This underrepresentation of bisexuality within research appears even more disproportionate when one considers that reported rates of bisexuality are noticeably higher than reported rates of homosexuality, especially so among women under 30 (Diamond, 2008). This research was an attempt to remedy this disparity in knowledge, as well as to learn more about bisexual identity, identity uncertainty, and health and wellness outcomes associated with positive and negative identity experiences. Study One tested whether the construct of prototypicality from Self-Categorization Theory and Social Identity Theory applies to the social identity of bisexuality. I manipulated perception of bisexual prototypicality and measured how that affects positive and negative affect, individual and collective self-esteem, stress, and identity centrality and certainty. While the manipulation overall was not significant, there were marginally significant results that indicated participants in the high prototypicality condition had lower reports of self-esteem and identity certainty and centrality and higher reports of negative affect than their peers. Study Two investigated whether Identity Theory applies to bisexual identity, specifically whether identity verification results in positive affect and behaviors and identity threat results in negative affect and behaviors. Study Two was a longitudinal daily diary study that asked participants to record daily experiences of bisexual identity verification and identity threat, as well as positive and negative health behaviors. The results of the study did not support the hypothesis of negative and positive identity events influencing affect and behaviors, but initial reports of negative affect, self-esteem, and identity certainty were related to initial status and change in stress and anxiety