Effects of LGBTI+ Community-based Organisations on LGTBI+s in the Northern Part of Cyprus

This study focused on the effect of community-based organisations on sexual health, mental and social well-being as well as alcohol and substance use of LGBTI+s in the northern part of Cyprus. These variables have been linked in the literature as syndemic health inequalities (Hegazi & Pakianathan, 2018). Recent research has concluded that both discrimination and tolerance created higher levels of threatened social identity needs, which are self-esteem, meaning, belonging, efficacy and continuity, that affects the psychological well-being of LGBTI+s (Bagci et al., 2020a). Therefore, is proposed that there is a link between social well-being and psychological well-being. Within the literature it has been discussed that the sexual health of LGBTI+s comes with many perceived stigmas which is also a contributing factor for not receiving medical care, therefore, making specifically men who have sex with men, trans as well as those who engage in anal sex higher risk group for sexual health deficits (Hegazi & Pakianathan, 2018). There is also a great body of research highlighting that LGBTI+s are using higher rates of alcohol and other substances whether as a coping mechanism or a cultural stress output (Burgard et al., 2005; Johnson et al., 2008; Northridge et al., 2007; Roxburgh et al., 2016). In contrast to all these factors that affect LGBTI+s negatively, participation in LGBTI+ community based organizations has been found to have a positive impact on these variables (Fish et al., 2019). Many of these organisations provide psycho-social services, legal guidance, educational programs as well as medical referrals specific to LGBTI+s (Allen et al., 2012). Therefore, it was expected that participation in an LGBTI+ community-based organisation in the northern part of Cyprus will have a positive effect on LGBTI+s mental and social well-being, alcohol and substance use as well as sexual health. Out of all of these hypotheses, it was found that participation in community-based organisations only had a significant effect on the reported sexual health of LGBTI+s in the northern part of Cyprus.