| The purpose of this study was to examine how experiencing biphobia from direct sources (heterosexual/family members/friends/gay/lesbian individuals) and indirect sources (media or the general public) can result in a bisexual person experiencing non-clinical levels of distress. The study further assessed the correlations of how those experiences adversely impacted a person's sense of community, the quality of intimate relationships, and bisexual identity. There were 29 participants in the study who were mostly female (n = 26, 90%; male = 2, 7%; Genderqueer/gender-nonconforming = 1, 3%), mostly between the ages of 25 and 34 years (n = 17, 57%; 18-24 years = 4, 13%; 35-44 years = 3, 13%; 45-54 years = 2, 7%; 55 and older = 3, 10%), mostly Caucasian (n = 23, 79%; African-American or Black = 3, 10%; Asian or Pacific Islander = 1, 3%; Biracial or Multi-Racial = 1, 3%; prefer not to respond = 1, 3%), mostly earned an undergraduate degree (n = 11, 38%) or a master's degree (n = 9, 31%), doctoral degree (n = 4, 14%), had some college experience (n = 2, 7%), an associates degree (n = 2, 7%), or no high school diploma (n = 1, 3%). The findings did support hypothesis one with showing that participants all heard biphobia statements from all direct and indirect sources, but with most occurring from indirect sources from the media. The findings did not support that there was a direct correlation between hearing biphobia statements and having a lowered sense of community, an insecure bisexual identity, or having difficulty establishing intimate relationships. In fact, the findings showed significance in how intimate relationships were strengthened rather than weakened while hearing statements of biphobia. In conclusion, these results may speak to the participant pool's level of resilience than may have contributed significantly to these more unexpected findings rather than as a total representation of the bisexual experience. |
