Surviving in a competitive milieu : the coping mechanisms of sexually challenged individuals / Suzette Licup Tijam. 6

Thesis (M.A.) -- Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, 2007.;A thesis presented to the faculty of the Graduate School of Arts, Sciences and Education in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Master of Arts in Psychology. 56

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ABSTRACT: This study aimed to find out the coping mechanisms of sexually challenged individuals who are surviving in a competitive milieu. Specifically, it sought o determine the coping mechanisms of sexually challenged individuals, the problems that they encountered in associating or dealing with the members of the opposite sex and with the members of the same sex, the significant differences in the coping mechanisms of sexually challenged individuals, and the kind of future they saw as sexually challenged individuals. The respondents were 30 gays and 30 lesbians in Metro Manila who were professionals, students, and unemployed. Snowball was used as a sampling technique and Likert scale was used in gathering relevant information about them. The results of the study revealed that the gays and lesbians used projection, reaction formation, rationalization, suppression, and repression as their coping mechanisms. Their leading coping mechanism was projection and the least in terms of the frequency of usage was repression. The t-test for two independent groups showed a t=0.54<0.59 which means that there were no significant differences in the coping mechanisms of sexually challenged individuals. Moreover, it was found out that most of the gays and lesbians encountered members of the opposite sex and same sex who believed in myths about gays and lesbians. It also revealed through content analysis that most of the gays and lesbians viewed their future positively. Their optimism was attributed to their aspirations for abundant graces, success in their careers, good relationships with friends and families, respect, acceptance, and freedom from discrimination. This study recommends a more extensive investigation on the coping mechanisms of gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transgender, straight men and straight women in order to explore their similarities and differences. Content analysis may be supplemented by inter-rater judgment and statistics in order to ascertain validity and reliability. Helpful techniques can be employed by professionals in the field of behavioral science and psychotherapy in order to help gays and lesbians who need therapy. Psychologists in industrial organizations may develop psychological materials that aim to determine jobs that will befit gays and lesbians in order to maximize their skills and talents. Updated and relevant information may be disseminated through the efforts of school teachers and administrators, psychologists, counselors, and therapists in order to lessen the human impact of homophobia. Laws that uphold gays' rights may be enacted in order to address cases of discrimination. A home or center for abused or old gays and lesbians may be put up legally by the government in order to uplift their welfare. Likewise, gays and lesbians may attend a finishing school in order to enhance their personalities, and thereby, meet social and cultural expectations.

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