‘Their Words Cut me Like a Knife’: coping responses of Dutch lesbian, gay and bisexual youth to stigma

Stigmatization experienced by lesbian, gay and bisexual youth (LGB) is associated with reduced psychological well-being and suggests that coping is an important mediator. The current study investigates the coping with stigma of Dutch LGB youth, and examines the social and individual mechanisms that influenced coping with stigmatization in relation to several contexts (family, school, religion, public sphere), as well as it analyses changes in LGB youths’ coping over time. Qualitative interviews were held with 30 LGB youth aged 16 to 25, who had regularly encountered homophobic responses. Through comparing their self-acceptance as LGB and well-being with their emotional and behavioural responses to stigma, as well as the changes within these aspects over time, four coping with stigma patterns were identified and elaborated. Youths’ coping patterns with stigma varied along the ability to critique a ‘heteronormative habitus’, as well as due to support through social resources and social networks. The access to such support emerged from within the interplay of family support, institutional and peer support, LGB organizations, a change in environment as well as personal strengths