Attachment style and perceived discrimination: Associations with depression among young lesbian, gay, and bisexual Romanian adults

Abstract

Purpose: This study aims to evaluate the importance of individual determinants (gender, age), attachment style, and perceived discrimination on depression among young lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) Romanians. Method: Participants comprised 374 young adults (172 men and 202 women; mean age = 25.75, SD = 7.78; 216 LGB and 158 heterosexuals). They completed the Adult Attachment Scale, the Beck Depression Inventory, and underwent a structured interview, designed to classify clinical depression, and measure the perceived discrimination in relation to their sexuality. Differences between groups were evaluated using the χ2 test (for the distribution of depressed individuals), the Mann–Whitney test (to compare the depression scores), a hierarchical linear regression analysis (to identify the predictors of depression), the F-test (to compare perceived discrimination in the LGB subgroups), and a moderation analysis (to test the interaction effects of attachment and sexual identity). Results: In the LGB group, the depression scores were higher ( U = 12.99, Z = −4.14, p < .0001) and the insecure attachment was more prevalent, χ2(2) = 25.66, p < .0001, than in heterosexuals. Perceived discrimination inside this group was skewed toward higher scores (mean = 5.68, SD = 2.58). Attachment style played the highest predictive role for depression (β = .352, p < .0001), followed by age (β = −.120, p < .012). The predictive effect of attachment on depression was not mediated by sexual orientation. Conclusion: Our study points out insecure attachment style and age as being important in the onset of depression in LGB individuals. This result can have implications for how depression is handled in these patients and the development of efficient care standards.