Abstract
Lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) people reported disproportionately higher rates of mental health problems than their heterosexual counterparts due to the widespread stigma. Family, as the core of Chinese traditional culture and an essential component of society, is the center of people's lives. This thesis seeks to address the overarching research question of "What is the role of family experiences in LGB people's mental health in China?"; Specifically, it aims to investigate LGB people's experiences within their family of origin (parental family) and family formation (marriage), and how family experiences play a role in their mental health within China's family context. Guided by the Socio-ecological Model, this thesis employed a mixed methods approach—a qualitative study followed by a quantitative study. Specifically, the qualitative study involved semi-structured online interviews with 30 LGB people aged from 22 to 54 years old. It seeks to address the research question of "What is the role of family of origin and family formation experiences in LGB people's psychological well-being within China's family context?" Three broad themes merged from the thematic analysis: 1) Parental pressure occupies the central role in psychological well-being; 2) Siblings may cushion parental pressure and influence psychological well-being; and 3) Family formation experiences' roles in psychological well-being. Informed by existing literature and findings from the qualitative study, the quantitative study focused on LGB people's experiences within their family of origin based on Structural Equation Models. Specifically, an online survey was conducted with 564 LGB people aged from 18 to 55 years old. Participants were surveyed about socio-demographic information, familial and societal factors (i.e., perceived parental acceptance, filial piety, connection with parents), internalized homo/biphobia, and mental health (operationalized as depression and anxiety). The Structural Equation Models explored the direct and indirect associations among these variables. Together, this thesis provides a comprehensive insight into Chinese LGB people's experiences within their family of origin and family formation, and how family experiences play a role in their mental health. It also offers an in-depth understanding by integrating interview and survey data sources and reveals the mental health issues faced by LGB people in China's family context. The findings from the meta-inference analysis include: 1) Perceived parental acceptance supports better mental health; 2) Social stigma exacerbates low perceived parental acceptance; 3) Filial piety can bring fulfilment but also cause pressure; 4) Connection with parents can influence mental health by enhancing self-acceptance; 5) Siblings may cushion parental pressure and enhance mental health; and 6) Marriage can enhance mental health but also bring new challenges. These findings highlight the importance of reduce social stigma, improving parental acceptance, and protecting LGB people's right of childbearing and adoption. Moreover, this thesis provides practical suggestions on family formation strategies for LGB people.