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dc.contributor.advisorPadmanabhanunni, Anita
dc.contributor.authorMcKenzie, Sharon Lynda
dc.date.accessioned2019-04-30T10:30:40Z
dc.date.available2019-04-30T10:30:40Z
dc.date.issued2018
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11394/6698
dc.descriptionMagister Artium (Psychology) - MA(Psych)en_US
dc.description.abstractAlthough research has shown that alcohol abuse in the Western Cape is amongst the highest in South Africa, lesbian-identified women have largely been ignored in this area of research. International literature has identified alcohol abuse amongst lesbian-identified women as a significant problem, with alcohol consumption rates considerably higher than their heterosexual counterparts. This interpretative phenomenological analysis explored lesbianidentified women’s lived experiences (n = 25) with alcohol abuse through in-depth semistructured interviews, in order to gain insight into their motivations for abusing alcohol and the impact this had on their lives and relationships. The core theme that emerged from the analysis of participants’ narratives was that alcohol abuse was related to coping with emotional distress and pain. The emotional distress participants experienced was due to their sexual minority status and encompassed aspects related to internalised homophobia, escaping pain, rejection, discrimination based on sexual orientation, mental health issues, patriarchy, heteronormativity, and homophobia. Results substantiate the need for the development of prevention, intervention, and support strategies, aimed specifically at sexual minority groups, in order to facilitate effective coping with sexual minority stress, mental health issues, and other distresses related to alcohol abuse.en_US
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherUniversity of the Western Capeen_US
dc.subjectAlcohol abuseen_US
dc.subjectDiscriminationen_US
dc.subjectHeteronormativityen_US
dc.subjectHomophobiaen_US
dc.subjectWestern Capeen_US
dc.titleLived experiences of lesbian-identified women who abuse alcohol: An interpretative phenomenological analysisen_US
dc.rights.holderUniversity of the Western Capeen_US


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