Youth experiencing homelessness (YEH) face disproportionately high levels of adversity compared with housed youth. Social support may protect against subsequent psychological distress and physiological stress, yet limited research has examined this among YEH. This study used baseline data from a randomized controlled rapid-rehousing trial with 240 YEH aged 18-24 years to investigate the associations between familial and friend support and psychological distress and physiological stress in YEH and whether these associations were moderated by family and friend substance use or criminal activity. Participants self-reported perceived support from family and friends. Familial and friend support were categorized as not present in the support network, low support, or high support. Regression models were conducted, adjusting for age, gender, sexuality, and race/ethnicity. Findings showed that youth with no family present (b = 4.85, p = .02) or low familial support (b = 4.83, p = .01) reported significantly higher depressive symptoms than those with high familial support. Similarly, youth with no family in their support network had greater odds of a past-year suicide attempt versus youth with high familial support (OR = 3.16, p = .05). Friend support was not significantly associated with psychological distress or physiological stress. No significant moderation effects were found for network substance use or criminal involvement. Supportive familial relationships are associated with lower levels of depression and suicide risk among YEH. Intervention and policy efforts should assess and enhance existing support networks to reduce the psychological burden of homelessness. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).
In this study we test how sexual assault survivors on a college campus engage their social networks and how this relational context contributes to psychopathology. We conducted egocentric social network analysis of N = 423 sexual assault survivors and their N = 3,863 network members. We examine how characteristics of the network (e.g., number of other survivors, number of disclosure recipients, presence of unsupportive responders) are associated with posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety symptoms. We also examine what network-, survivor-, and network member-level factors are associated with a network member receiving a sexual assault disclosure and the supportiveness of that network member's response. We found that characteristics of the network were associated with increased psychopathology. Participant and network member factors were associated with both the likelihood that a network member received a disclosure and with the perceived supportiveness of the network member. Finally, survivors with minoritized identities were less likely to disclose to or report supportive responses from network members who did not share their identity (i.e., different race, heterosexual). Findings from this study help to further elucidate the social context through which survivors are accessing support and demonstrate an association between network composition and psychopathology. Further, findings from this study have implications for supporter-driven postsexual assault prevention. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).
Spanish-speaking Latine families face significant barriers in accessing autism spectrum disorder assessment and intervention services, experiencing delays in diagnosis and limited access to culturally responsive care. Families of color not only face persistent systemic barriers that affect help-seeking trajectories and parental well-being but also encounter cultural differences that play a role in their experiences. Therefore, this qualitative study aimed to examine the help-seeking trajectories and well-being of Spanish-speaking Latine parents of children with autism, using the psychosociocultural model as a theoretical framework. Eleven Spanish-speaking Latine parents of children with autism participated in semistructured interviews conducted in Spanish. Thematic analysis within a social constructivist paradigm was utilized to analyze help-seeking trajectories and well-being narratives. Findings revealed five major themes and two subthemes that highlighted a nonlinear help-seeking trajectory shaped by cultural beliefs, linguistic barriers, and systemic obstacles. Findings have implications for the need of culturally and linguistically responsive health care services, reduced stigma, and strengthened community support systems to improve outcomes for these families. Future research should aim to explore the intersecting identities of parenting a child with autism and other cultural identities such as Latinidad that shape the narratives of parents of children with autism. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).
Children of parents with depression are prone to mental health problems. Self-stigma severely impacts individuals' help-seeking behaviors and mental well-being, but the effects of parental depression on offspring's self-stigma remain unknown. This study proposed and validated a family-individual model to explain how familial and individual factors impact depression self-stigma. A survey of 1,012 Chinese individuals with depression (aged 13-30 years) was conducted from May to October 2023 to collect data. T tests and chi-square tests were used to identify differences between groups with and without parental depression. Structural equation modeling was used to validate and modify the proposed model. The group with parental depression reported significantly poorer family relationships, lower levels of parental care, and higher levels of parental overprotection. This group also reported higher self-stigma, experienced stigma, and introversion, as well as lower self-esteem, resilience, and social functioning. Six serial mediation paths linked parental depression to offspring's self-stigma through familial and individual factors. These factors had significant and positive effects on offspring's self-stigma, with indirect effects β ranging from 0.007 to 0.034. The trimmed model demonstrated a satisfactory model fit: χ²(100) = 371.48, p < .001, comparative fit index = 0.902, Tucker-Lewis index = 0.892, root-mean-square error of approximation = 0.052, standardized root-mean-square residual = 0.045. The findings underscore the complex interplay between family dynamics and individual psychological factors in shaping self-stigma. Negative family interactions (i.e., conflict, reduced parental care, and heightened parental overprotection) exacerbate low self-esteem, poor social functioning, and introversion in offspring with depression, further contributing to their internalization of stigma. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer (LGBTQ+) Latine individuals in Central Texas experience interdependent systems of oppression due to colonization and the recent rise of hostile social policies and attitudes. Despite these challenges, they continue to survive and thrive, though little is known about the population's resistance strategies. Our photovoice study employs a borderlands framework to explore resistance through visual and narrative data from 15 LGBTQ+ Latine adults living in Central Texas. Study procedures were developed in collaboration with a community advisory board of LGBTQ+ and Latine community members. Data were analyzed using reflective thematic analysis. Findings reveal how historical and contemporary forces in Central Texas produce cultural tensions that participants resist through development of a mestiza consciousness, including fostering critical consciousness (the ability to recognize, analyze, and take action against oppression), synthesizing identities, and navigating ambiguities. Positive emotions emerged as essential to resistance and healing, serving as both driver and outcome in a reinforcing cycle. Clinicians, allies, and advocates can support LGBTQ+ Latine individuals by promoting critical consciousness, nurturing compassionate connections in family and community, and advancing social inclusion through state legislation. Future research should extend these findings to other LGBTQ+ Latine communities across Texas and the United States, as the population size and visibility continue to grow. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).
Crisis migration research has advanced our understanding by highlighting the importance of a comprehensive perspective and consideration of experiences across the migration life course. However, one shortcoming is that the paradigm's focus on acute stress and trauma in the pre- and postmigration contexts often overlooks the more quotidian challenges of adjusting to a new social, cultural, and environmental context. Drawing from a sample of Venezuelan crisis migrants resettled in distinct contexts within Colombia and Florida (United States), the present study aimed to examine the sociocultural adjustment of Venezuelan crisis migrants, with particular attention to potential cross-national and contextual-level differences. Surveyed in 2023-2024, the sample includes 1,243 adults who had emigrated from Venezuela since 2015 and currently reside in Colombia (n = 568) or Florida (n = 675). Venezuelans who relocated to Florida reported higher levels of sociocultural adjustment than those who migrated to Colombia, reflecting overall easier adjustment in Florida. Sociocultural adjustment was robustly and negatively associated with depressive symptoms, even when controlling for key migration-related stressors. We also found that sociocultural adjustment and migration-related stressors interact in their relationship to depressive symptoms, such that pre- and postmigration stressors are less connected to depressive symptoms among individuals who find their sociocultural environment relatively easy to adjust to. The findings contribute to crisis migration research by shedding light on how sociocultural adaptation varies significantly by receiving site and how it is associated with mental health, above and beyond the effects of key migration-related stressors. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).
War and crisis pose serious threats to the mental health of young adults, a group already navigating complex developmental transitions. For those considered at risk, the psychological toll may be even greater due to preexisting vulnerabilities and limited access to support. In this study, we examined the association between war exposure and mental health of Israeli at-risk young adults following the October 7, 2023, attacks and subsequent war. Specifically, drawing on conservation of resources theory, we tested a theoretically informed mediation model in which resource loss was hypothesized to account for the association between war exposure and mental health while also assessing the protective roles of psychological resilience and social support. The sample included 537 at-risk young adults (ages 18-26 years) enrolled in Israel's national program for at-risk young adults. Structural equation modeling showed that war exposure was associated with poorer mental health both directly and indirectly through resource loss. Higher levels of psychological resilience and social support were linked to better mental health, with psychological resilience also moderating the relation between resource loss and mental health. These findings underscore the potential importance of both internal and external resources in understanding the adjustment to war-related stress. The findings may have implications for trauma-informed, strength-based interventions that prevent resource depletion and reinforce support systems for vulnerable youth during times of crisis. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).
Childhood abuse places individuals at an elevated risk for psychopathology, including depressive and anxiety symptoms. Theory suggests that two abuse-related processes, identification with the aggressor (IWA) and doubt regarding abuse-related appraisals (DARA), may further exacerbate survivors' vulnerability. This longitudinal study examined the associations between IWA and DARA and both concurrent and subsequent depression and anxiety symptoms, as well as the predictive role of membership in IWA-DARA latent profiles in symptom development. An online survey was administered to 718 adult female survivors of childhood abuse residing in Israel. Participants completed self-report measures assessing IWA, DARA, depression, anxiety, and childhood abuse characteristics at Time 1 (T1), and a follow-up survey assessing depression and anxiety at Time 2 (T2; n = 245). Analyses revealed that higher IWA and DARA scores at T1 were significantly associated with greater concurrent and subsequent depression and anxiety symptoms. Two profiles emerged, representing co-occurring high versus low levels of IWA and DARA (i.e., reflecting overall co-occurrence of both constructs at different levels). Latent profile membership predicted depressive and anxiety symptoms at T2, beyond age, abuse severity, abuse recurrence, and baseline symptom levels. Findings suggest that elevated IWA and DARA, particularly when co-occurring, are associated with higher emotional distress and greater risk for long-term psychopathology. These results underscore the importance of assessing both relational and cognitive-emotional processes in clinical interventions with survivors of childhood abuse. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).
The October 7, 2023, attack and ensuing Iron Swords War exposed Israeli society to severe and prolonged collective stress. This study examined differences between Jewish and Arab citizens in terms of exposure to war-related events, hope, family quality of life, and community and national resilience, as well as psychological distress. Guided by the ecological theory, we aimed to explore (a) group differences in coping resources and distress, (b) associations among resilience and distress variables, and (c) the extent to which multilevel sociodemographics and coping resources explain psychological distress within each group. A convenience sample of 471 Jewish (69.6%) and Arab (30.4%) adults completed self-reported questionnaires approximately 100 days after the October 7 attack. Jewish participants reported significantly greater exposure and community resilience, whereas Arab participants reported greater national resilience and psychological distress. No group differences emerged for hope or family quality of life. Coping resources were positively interrelated and negatively associated with distress. Structural equation modeling revealed that distress was more strongly explained among Jews (35% variance) than Arabs (9%). Among Jews, younger age, being a woman, greater exposure, less hope, poorer family quality of life, and weaker community and national resilience predicted greater distress. Among Arabs, only poorer family quality of life and less hope significantly predicted distress. While Jewish distress was associated with exposure and multiple resilience systems, Arab distress was impacted less by contextual factors and more by internal and familial resources. Strengthening hope, family functioning, and culturally sensitive community supports may enhance psychological resilience across both populations. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).
Children and youth in immigrant families benefit from the health immigrant paradox, in which immigrants display a mental health advantage over U.S.-born Americans in spite of increased socioeconomic risk. This study examined whether hostile state immigration policy contexts are associated with a weakening of this advantage and whether racial spillover effects are present for racially and ethnically minoritized youth beyond immigration background. Data were drawn from the 2023 National Survey of Children's Health and the 2022 Immigration Policy Climate index. Survey-weighted logistic regression models indicated that children with immigrant parents demonstrated a mental health advantage relative to children with U.S.-born parents. State-level immigration policy contexts moderated this association, such that children with immigrant parents experienced a modest but statistically significant increase in the likelihood of mental health problems as policy hostility increased compared to nonimmigrant children. Evidence for a racial spillover effect was present for Asian and Pacific Islander children who experienced a modest increase in odds of mental health issues as policy hostility increased, regardless of their own immigration status. Overall, these findings suggest the presence of the healthy immigrant advantage for child and youth mental health while complicating this narrative by finding that this advantage modestly decreases as state-level immigration policy hostility increases. Findings highlight the need for a more contextualized understanding of child mental health and for greater attention to political environments in clinical mental health care. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).
Latinx populations in the United States experience a disproportionate burden of mental and behavioral health challenges and face significant barriers to care, often relying on emergency departments during crises. The study explores the social determinants of mental health shaping emergency department experiences of Latinx children with mental and behavioral health conditions and their care partners. This study draws on a subset of participants from a larger, multiethnic qualitative study by focusing specifically on Latinx children (ages 6-18; n = 4) and their care partners (n = 5). In-depth interviews were conducted with children selecting arts-based techniques (e.g., photo elicitation and drawing). Data were analyzed using the World Health Organization Commission on Social Determinants of Health framework, combining inductive coding with categorization into structural and intermediary determinants. Findings demonstrate how structural determinants (e.g., immigration-related barriers, insurance, and socioeconomic position) interact with intermediary determinants (e.g., psychosocial stress, material hardship, and health system factors) to shape care-seeking, including delays in accessing services and reliance on emergency departments. Cultural influences emerged primarily through individual- and family-level beliefs and did not operate in isolation; rather, their influence was embedded within broader social contexts marked by varying levels of social cohesion and social capital. Overall, the study highlights mental and behavioral health crisis care as a system-mediated, ongoing process rather than a discrete event. While findings reflect a small, context-specific sample, they underscore the need for integrated, culturally and linguistically responsive, and structurally informed interventions, such as the inclusion of bilingual community health workers, to improve access and continuity of care for Latinx families. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).
The abduction of children in armed conflict is a pervasive global problem with severe physical and psychological consequences. Such traumatic events affect not only children and their families but also the clinicians responsible for supporting recovery. This study examines the subjective experiences and coping strategies of clinicians in Israel who worked with children, adolescents, and their caregivers immediately after release from war captivity. Data were drawn from in-depth interviews with 37 clinicians, including social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists, nurses, and pediatricians, complemented by participant observation field notes. Clinicians reported intense emotional and somatic reactions, including anxiety, intrusive thoughts, crying spells, nightmares, stomachaches, and disgust. Participants also faced complex and at times distressing ethical dilemmas, particularly around balancing nonintrusive versus directive approaches and fostering autonomy while ensuring children's safety and best interests. At the same time, many clinicians described experiences of empowerment, renewed purpose, and profound professional meaning, often linked to the resilience of children and families. Coping strategies included team solidarity, shared reflection, reliance on previous professional experience, adaptability, and supervision. Findings underscore that working with children and caregivers released from captivity is uniquely demanding, as the characteristically interpersonal nature of the trauma complicates treatment and is further intensified by uncertainty, public visibility, and shared traumatic reality. To mitigate the emotional burden of clinicians and strengthen clinical effectiveness, cohesive multidisciplinary teams, clear intervention frameworks, ongoing supervision, and long-term follow-up are recommended. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).
This study examined the lived experiences of older adults displaced from the Israeli region near Gaza upon the outbreak of the Israel-Gaza war in 2023. The region's residents, already exposed to decades of continuous traumatic situation, were evacuated under emergency conditions and remained displaced for approximately 5 to 8 months at the time of the interviews. Using an inductive qualitative design, semistructured interviews were conducted with 20 displaced older adults (aged 66-92), focusing on the challenges of displacement in later life, coping strategies, and supportive resources. The interview transcripts were analyzed thematically. The analysis revealed three main themes: (a) severe psychological distress related to the displacement and its traumatic context: intrusive thoughts and depressive moods, physical health consequences, and prolonged uncertainty and loss of control. Some linked the trauma to earlier years of living under threats, emphasizing the cumulative nature of their distress. (b) Coping strategies and internal resources: participants engaged in activities in their new environment, actively developed emotional regulation, and drew on experiences of resilience accumulated over time. (c) External resources, principally family and community ties, alongside host community and, for a few, professional assistance. The findings indicate that trauma in later life cannot be fully understood from either vulnerability or resilience-based perspectives alone but rather through their dynamic coexistence and shifting balance, particularly under conditions of continuous traumatic situation. These insights underscore the need for age-sensitive responses and interventions that strengthen family and community ties while ensuring access to professional support for older adults displaced in contexts of war and natural disaster. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).
This study investigates how social victimization, coping strategies, and social-structural factors are associated with mental health outcomes among widowed Syrian refugee women in Jordan and Türkiye. Guided by intersectionality and conservation of resources theories, it examines whether discrimination, bullying, profiling, abuse, and coping (problem-focused, emotion-focused, and avoidance) are related to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, depressive symptoms, and general psychological distress and whether these associations differ by host country. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 498 widowed Syrian women (Jordan: n = 198; Türkiye: n = 300) using standardized instruments (Impact of Event Scale-Revised, Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depressive Symptoms Scale, Kessler Psychological Distress Scale, Brief Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced, Social Victimization Questionnaire). Analyses were conducted separately by country using hierarchical regressions. Across both settings, women reported high symptom burden, with intercorrelations among PTSD symptoms, depressive symptoms, and distress, with correlation coefficients (R) ranging from .47 to .62 (p < .001). In Jordan, avoidance coping was strongly associated with PTSD and depressive symptoms (p < .01), and models explained 39.4% of PTSD and 42.5% of depressive symptom variance. In Türkiye, emotion-focused and problem-focused coping were inversely associated with distress and depressive symptoms (p < .01). Coping and victimization together accounted for 28.1% of distress and 22.7% of depressive symptom variance. Social victimization was consistently associated with higher PTSD symptoms in both countries and strongly linked to distress and depressive symptoms in Türkiye. These findings underscore pathways through which social victimization and coping contribute to mental health and inequalities while highlighting the need for antidiscrimination protections; trauma-informed mental health services; and structural supports in employment, education, and social protection for widowed Syrian refugee women. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).
Exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depressive symptoms, and functional impairment among women of reproductive age are pressing public health and human rights issues in conflict-affected settings. However, to better inform policy and influence positive change, there is a need to understand the trajectories and relationships between these issues over time. We aimed to characterize the trajectories and associations between IPV, depressive symptoms, PTSD, and functional impairment over time among women of reproductive age in conflict-affected, low-resource Timor-Leste. Data are from a prospective cohort study of 854 women, conducted from 2013 to 2020 in Timor-Leste. Participants were assessed at four time points: second trimester of pregnancy (from Weeks 13 to 27) and when the child was 18 months, 36 months, and 60 months old. Latent growth curve modeling and bivariate analyses were used to explore the trajectories and associations. At each wave, PTSD and depressive symptoms were positively correlated with functional impairment and past conflict trauma. IPV was consistently associated with risk of PTSD, depressive symptoms, and impaired functioning among women over time. IPV was reported at a high rate at each time point, whereas PTSD and depressive symptoms improved over time. Findings indicate the need for IPV prevention programs and stronger legal and social sanctions to reduce men's violence. Improvements in women's mental health may be due to the time that has elapsed since conflict trauma or since the birth of the child. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).
Public health restrictions during infectious disease outbreaks can have a significant impact on the social lives of all individuals given public health guidance related to quarantining, shelter-in-place, and social distancing. These impacts may be felt differently or more profoundly by people who live alone. However, minimal research or public health guidance focused on the needs of individuals living alone. In this qualitative study, eight focus groups were completed with 37 participants that had experience living alone during some point in the first 2 years of the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants lived in different regions of the United States and were predominantly female and White. Thematic analysis was conducted to identify codes related to how social lives were impacted and how the individuals adapted at different phases of the pandemic. Participants reported their adaptation changed depending on the phase of the pandemic, and some reported needing to socialize despite the risk. Some individuals were able to gain social connection through technology or finding support within their community, whereas others experienced heightened levels of loneliness and negative coping. Implications for providing guidance that addresses the large population of adults that live alone are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).
Asylum-seeking populations face a disproportionate burden of adverse mental health outcomes, yet empirical evidence on the factors that promote resilience and empowerment within these communities remain limited. This exploratory qualitative study examined the lived experiences of asylum-seeking parents through the lens of the family resilience model. Semistructured, in-depth interviews were conducted with 13 low-income Eritrean asylum-seeking parents in Israel, aged 25-40, most of whom resided in two-parent households. Data were analyzed, and themes were derived inductively using constructivist grounded theory principles, with the family resilience model serving as an orienting framework rather than a deductive coding scheme. Findings indicate that disruptions in the normal life continuum across three domains-legal rights, identity perception, and the intergenerational family continuum-generate a cumulative cycle of risk and vulnerability that challenges mental health and overall family functioning. Concurrently, protective and adaptive processes operating within the nuclear family, as well as the personal and community levels, form a multilayered support system that fosters resilience and empowerment. This study contributes to existing literature on strength-based approaches and offers policy and practice recommendations aimed at supporting asylum-seeking families. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).
Recurrent crises like natural disasters, pandemics, and armed conflicts constitute a persistent traumatic reality for communities worldwide, significantly affecting students, teachers, and parents. While the importance of education in emergencies is well recognized, the research in western contexts has largely focused on acute collective traumas, with less attention to schools facing ongoing war and political conflict traumas. To address this gap, the study explored Israeli teachers' (N = 1,100) and parents' (N = 710) expectations of school psychosocial and material support for students, staff members, and parents; their evaluations of the actual support provided; and discrepancies between the two during the October 7 Israel-Hamas war. t tests were used to compare the school's expected role versus evaluations of provided support regarding students, teachers, and parents and to compare teachers' and parents' perceptions of roles and support provided. Analysis of variance, t tests, and correlations were used to explore associations between participants' background characteristics and their expectations of schools. Both groups emphasized schools' crucial role in providing emotional support and guidance, but notable gaps existed between expectations and actual support, especially regarding counseling (teachers: ta = 28.44, d = 1.07; parents: ta = 33.03, d = 1.08). Parents and teachers also differed in their expectations and perceptions, highlighting the need to include all stakeholder perspectives. The findings indicate the need for increased resources for emotional support, structured guidance, and systemic backing. Enhancing school-family communication and aligning expectations are also vital during crises. The authors stress the importance of preparing for future recurrent emergencies. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).
Adopted adults may be at a higher risk of developing complex trauma symptoms due to early attachment ruptures caused by separating from caregivers and other potential early adverse childhood experiences. Critical consciousness, or interrogating systems of oppression, may mitigate trauma symptoms of powerlessness for marginalized groups by inspiring purposeful collective action. This study explored the association between critical consciousness (critical reflection, motivation, and action) and complex trauma symptoms from a national cross-sectional online survey of a racially diverse sample (N = 464) of adopted adults in the United States. The final regression model, which included demographic variables, adoption characteristics, traumatic experiences, and critical consciousness, explained 34.9% of complex trauma symptoms among adult adoptees in the sample, R² = .349, F(3, 355) = 5.630, p < .001, and critical consciousness accounted for 3.1% of the unique variance. Critical motivation, or a belief in one's ability to contribute to social change, was the only variable associated with lower complex trauma symptoms (β = -0.15, p = .019). Critical reflection, or a realization of societal inequality (β = .13, p = .037) and critical action, or political activism (β = .14, p = .004), were associated with higher trauma symptoms. Exploratory findings suggest critical consciousness of systemic oppression may be an important and complex factor to consider when addressing complex trauma symptoms among racially diverse clients who grew up outside of the "traditional" standard North American family (i.e., heterosexual, legally married couple with biological children). Findings suggest that aspects of critical consciousness may cause distress, but other aspects, such as critical motivation, may address feelings of powerlessness and be associated with lower complex trauma symptoms. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).
This study examines the experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning, and related (LGBTQ+) individuals with psychiatric diagnoses regarding self-disclosure by LGBTQ+ social workers in mental health services. Understanding their perspectives and reflections contributes to deeper insight into the recovery process and the specific needs of LGBTQ+ clients. Twenty-nine LGBTQ+ individuals with psychiatric diagnoses receiving psychiatric rehabilitation services in Israel participated in semistructured in-depth interviews. Guided by intersectionality theory, this phenomenological study explores how shared identity shapes therapeutic relationships in mental health care. Findings revealed that therapist self-disclosure functions as a complex relational process. Visibility was experienced as a therapeutic resource that fostered trust, safety, and belonging and accelerated the development of the therapeutic alliance. At the same time, shared identity introduced ethical and relational complexities, including blurred boundaries, confidentiality concerns, and the risk of reducing clients' experiences to a single identity axis. Participants further described how professional stance and boundary negotiation enabled processes of rupture and repair, allowing challenges to be transformed into opportunities for deeper therapeutic engagement. The findings suggest that LGBTQ+ identity disclosure is neither inherently beneficial nor harmful, but depends on context, timing, implementation, and client interpretation. When enacted reflexively and supported by supervision, self-disclosure can enhance therapeutic care, reduce stigma, and promote equity in mental health services. These results underscore the need for structured training and institutional support to guide ethical and affirmative disclosure practices in clinical social work. Supporting LGBTQ+ visibility promotes social justice and inclusivity at the policy level. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).
