HENRIQUE PEREIRA (*)

ISABEL LEAL (**)

RESUMO

Este trabalho procura investigar o conceito de Homofobia Internalizada quer teoricamente, quer na prática, nomeadamente em relação à adopção de comportamentos para a saúde entre homens homossexuais. Pretendeu-se saber se existiam diferenças significativas na adopção desses comportamentos entre homens com maiores e menores níveis de homofobia internalizada e, se sim, de que maneira é que essas diferenças se manifestavam. Para tal, delineou-se uma investigação numa perspectiva comparativa recorrendo a um número significativo de participantes (n=304). Os questionários utilizados foram o Questionário de Avaliação da Homofobia Internalizada (também validado no presente estudo - α =0.74) e o Questionário de Comportamentos para a Saúde. Da investigação concluiu-se que existem diferenças significativas entre os dois grupos que se manifestam de maneira divergente, consoante se considerava a homofobia internalizada em função da dimensão interna da percepção do estigma; em função da dimensão externa da percepção do estigma; ou ainda, em função da dimensão global (interna e externa) de percepção do estigma.

Palavras-chave: Homofobia internalizada, comportamentos para a saúde, homens homossexuais.

ABSTRACT

This work aims to investigate the concept of Internalized Homophobia both theoretically and in practice in relation to health behaviour among homosexual men. We wanted to know if there were any significant differences comparing two groups of men, one with higher levels and the other with lesser levels of internalized homophobia. For this we developed a comparative investigation using a significant number of participants (n=304). The questionnaires that we used were the Questionnaire for the Assessment of Internalized Homophobia (also validated in the present study - α=0.74) and the Questionnaire of Health Behaviour. We concluded that there were significant differences between the two groups if we considered the internalized homophobia as a result of internal perception of the stigma; as a result of external perception of stigma; or as a result of both internal and external perception of the stigma.

Key words: Internalized homophobia, health behaviours, gay men.

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(*) Universidade da Beira Interior.

(**) Instituto Superior de Psicologia Aplicada, Lisboa.