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Healthcare
Special Issues
Gender, Sexuality and Mental Health
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Gender, Sexuality and Mental Health

A special issue of Healthcare (ISSN 2227-9032).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2025 | Viewed by 1160

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Henrique Pereira

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Psychology and Education, Faculty of Social and Human Sciences, University of Beira Interior, Pólo IV, 6200-209 Covilhã, Portugal
Interests: mental health; gender and sexual minorities
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Felipe Alckmin-Carvalho

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Psychology and Education, Faculty of Social and Human Sciences, University of Beira Interior, Pólo IV, 6200-209 Covilhã, Portugal
Interests: psychological assessment; psychological intervention; psychopathology; health and clinical psychology; social psychology; public health; autism and stigma
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

A large body of scientific research has identified factors that show an association between gender/sexual aspects and mental health. Research usually associates interpersonal discrimination and stigma with poor mental health outcomes, but further investigations of the influence of psychosocial contexts and norms on mental health and well-being are needed. This essential task has relevant implications for health and social interventions, as well as policy measures aimed at prevention. Focusing on enhancing the effectiveness of primary care and related services, while also investing in prevention programs, resources, and research, this Special Issue will contribute to promoting mental health outcomes. More specifically, sexual orientation and gender identity need to become a part of routine data collection so that inequalities in mental health and well-being can be more fully understood and addressed.

For this Special Issue, we welcome original research, reviews and commentaries that provide new knowledge about determinants of mental health and well-being, focusing on gender and all forms of sexualities from around the world.

Prof. Dr. Henrique Pereira
Dr. Felipe Alckmin-Carvalho
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Healthcare is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • gender
  • sexualities
  • mental health
  • well-being
  • sexual stigma
  • health behavior
  • risk factors
  • protective factors
  • LGBTQIA+

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 470 KiB  
Article
Sexual Dysfunction in the Life Cycle of Women: Implications for Psychological Health
by Samet Kırat
Healthcare 2025, 13(11), 1268; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13111268 - 27 May 2025
Viewed by 321
Abstract
Objective: Sexual dysfunction (SD) is a prevalent but frequently overlooked condition that adversely affects women’s quality of life and psychological well-being. This study aimed to examine the relationship between SD and depression, anxiety, and stress levels during premenopausal, pregnancy, and postmenopausal. Methods: This [...] Read more.
Objective: Sexual dysfunction (SD) is a prevalent but frequently overlooked condition that adversely affects women’s quality of life and psychological well-being. This study aimed to examine the relationship between SD and depression, anxiety, and stress levels during premenopausal, pregnancy, and postmenopausal. Methods: This prospective, cross-sectional study included 300 women aged 18–70 who presented with SD symptoms to a tertiary care gynecology outpatient clinic. Participants were categorized into premenopausal, pregnant, and postmenopausal groups. Sexual function was assessed using the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), and psychological status was evaluated with the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify risk factors associated with SD. Results: The results showed that SD prevalence varied across life stages, with the highest rate (96%) observed in postmenopausal women. Significant decreases were found in all FSFI subscales, particularly lubrication and orgasm, during the postmenopausal period (p < 0.001). Although DASS-21 total scores did not differ significantly between groups (p = 0.227), severe stress was more prevalent in premenopausal women (p = 0.018). Univariate logistic regression revealed that older age, higher parity, and menopause increased SD risk (p < 0.001), while employment (p = 0.006), higher education (p = 0.012), and pregnancy (p < 0.001) were protective factors. Multivariate analysis identified parity as the only independent variable significantly increasing SD risk (p = 0.011). Weak but significant negative correlations were found between FSFI total score and DASS-21 total (r = −0.137, p = 0.018), anxiety (r = −0.135, p = 0.019), and depression (r = −0.176, p = 0.002) scores. Conclusion: These findings highlight the importance of individualized assessment and treatment approaches for women’s sexual health across different life stages, considering the influence of various biological, psychological, and social factors. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gender, Sexuality and Mental Health)
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21 pages, 334 KiB  
Article
Perceived Homonegativity and Psychological Distress in Gay Men in Brazil: Does Skin Color Matter?
by Felipe Alckmin-Carvalho, Renata Della Torre, Iara Teixeira, Jóni Ledo, António Oliveira, Lúcia Yasuko Izumi Nichiata and Henrique Pereira
Healthcare 2025, 13(9), 1030; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13091030 - 30 Apr 2025
Viewed by 397
Abstract
Homonegativity is associated with several adverse physical and mental health outcomes in gay men. However, the intersection between homonegativity and racism remains little investigated in Brazil. The aim of this study was to assess, in a sample of cisgender Brazilian gay men, associations [...] Read more.
Homonegativity is associated with several adverse physical and mental health outcomes in gay men. However, the intersection between homonegativity and racism remains little investigated in Brazil. The aim of this study was to assess, in a sample of cisgender Brazilian gay men, associations between skin color, homonegativity, psychological distress, and socioeconomic variables. Method: A cohort of 229 Brazilian gay men, 151 (66%) white and 78 (34%) black or brown were assessed. Participants completed the Internalized Homophobia Scale, the Beck Depression Inventory-II, and the State–Trait Anxiety Inventory. Results: In the general sample, high levels of homonegativity, symptoms of depression, and trait and state anxiety were found, particularly among young and low-income individuals. Black and brown participants reported significantly higher levels of trait and state anxiety, but not depression or homonegativity. Black and brown skin color were a predictor of trait and state anxiety, but not of homonegativity or depression. Conclusions: The high levels of psychological distress and homonegativity found in the general sample indicate the importance of developing preventive interventions of racial discrimination and sexual prejudice for the general community and psychoeducational and therapeutic interventions for Brazilian gay men, regardless of skin color. They also suggest the relevance of customizing these interventions to meet the specificities of black/brown Brazilian gay men, a population doubly exposed to the burden of stigma, considering the intersection between racial and sexual stigma in the Brazilian sociocultural reality. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gender, Sexuality and Mental Health)
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