Abstract
Because of Malaysia’s conservative society, its homosexual citizens are often marginalized and discriminated. Past studies have shown a significant difference in psychological well-being between homosexuals and their heterosexual counterparts, which is attributed to differences in social treatment. Existing studies have discussed the underlying process of the relation between perceived discrimination and suicidal ideation among homosexuals globally. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the relation between perceived discrimination and suicidal thoughts among homosexuals in Malaysia through the mediating effect of self-esteem. Research subjects were composed of400 self-identified homosexuals who participated in an online survey. TheSuicidal Ideation Attributes Scale, Modified Acculturative Stress Scale, andRosenberg Self-Esteem Scale were used to measure the variables under investigation. Results indicated a negative significant correlation between the perceived discrimination–self-esteem link and between the self-esteem–suicidal ideation link among homosexuals. Positive relations were found between perceived discrimination and suicidal ideation. Moreover, a significant mediating effect of self-esteem was found in the link between perceived discrimination and suicidal ideation, which showed that high perceived discrimination and low self-esteem are risk factors for suicidal thoughts. Hence, besides promoting psychological betterment among homosexuals, self-empowerment seems critical and necessary to reduce suicidal ideation risk among homosexuals.
Bahasa Abstract
Malaysia sebagai negara konservatif sering mengesampingkan dan mendiskriminasikan kaum homoseksual. Banyak studi telah menunjukkan perbedaan kondisi psikologis kaum homoseksual dengan heteroseksual yang disebabkan oleh perbedaan perlakuan sosial. Studi yang telah ada telah membahas proses yang mendasari hubungan antara persepsi
diskriminasi dan ide bunuh diri di kalangan homoseksual secara global. Studi ini bertujuan menginvestigasi hubungan antara persepsi diskriminasi dan ide bunuh diri pada kaum homoseksual di Malaysia dengan mempertimbangkan harga diri sebagai mediator. Subjek dari studi ini terdiri dari empat ratus inividu yang mengidentifikasi diri sebagai homoseksual yang berpartisipasi melalui survei online. Suicidal Ideation Attributes Scale, Modified Acculturative Stress Scale dan Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale digunakan untuk mengukur variabel penelitian. Analisis menunjukan korelasi negatif yang signifikan antara persepsi diskriminasi dan harga diri serta antara harga diri dan ide bunuh diri di antara kaum homoseksual. Korelasi positif ditemukan antara persepsi diskriminasi dan ideasi bunuh diri. Harga diri ditemukan sebagai mediator yang signifikan pada hubungan antara persepsi diskriminasi dan ide bunuh diri. Temuan ini menunjukkan bahwa persepsi diskriminasi yang tinggi dan harga diri yang rendah adalah faktor penyebab ide bunuh diri. Sehingga selain mempromosikan kemajuan psikologis di antara kaum homoseksual, pemberdayaan diri penting dan kritis bagi kaum homoseksual untuk mengurangi risiko ide bunuh diri.
Recommended Citation
Tan, S., Tay, W. M., Neoh, M. E., & Wong, H. W. (2018). The Association between Perceived Discrimination and Suicide among Homosexuals: The Role of Self-Esteem as Mediator. Makara Human Behavior Studies in Asia, 22(1), 22-28. https://doi.org/10.7454/hubs.asia.2300618