Relationships between traditional and cyber harassment and self-identity confusion among Taiwanese gay and bisexual men in emerging adulthood

Background: Harassment victimization is prevalent among gay and bisexual men and may negatively impact the victims’ mental health. Aims: To examine the relationships between traditional and cyber harassment and self-identity confusion among Taiwanese gay and bisexual men in emerging adulthood. Procedures: A total of 305 gay or bisexual men (age, 20–25 years) in Taiwan were recruited. Participants’ self-identity confusion and the experiences of traditional and cyber harassment were assessed. The relationships of experiences of harassment victimization, number of places at which traditional harassment occurred, and type of harassment victimization with self-identity confusion were examined using multiple regression analysis. Results: Both victims of verbal ridicule and relational exclusion and victims of physical aggression and theft of belongings had higher levels of disturbed identity and lack of identity than did non-victims. Those who experienced traditional harassment at multiple places had higher levels of unconsolidated identity and lack of identity than did those who experienced traditional harassment at only one place. Those who experienced multiple types of harassment had higher levels of unconsolidated identity than those who experienced only one type of harassment. Discussions: Victimization of traditional harassment and multisite and multitype harassments were significantly related to self-identity confusion in gay and bisexual men.