Family Conflict, Physical Symptoms, and Post Traumatic Stress among Sexual Minorities during the COVID Pandemic: A Moderated Mediation Model

Abstract

ABSTRACT Sexual minorities experience health disparities compared to heterosexuals due to their stigmatized identies. The COVID- 19 pandemic has further exacerbated these disparities. Sexual minorities were surveyed about their experiences during the pandemic and asked about family conflict and minority stress as predictors of Post Traumatic Stress Symptoms (PTSS) and physical health symptoms, as well as psychological symptoms as a mediator of these relationships. We surveyed 435 sexual minorities who were recruited from Mechanical MTurk. Participants completed questionnaires that included demographics, PTSS in response to the pandemic, family conflict, minority stress, psychological symptoms, and physical health outcomes. Our findings support a moderated mediational model, explaining the relationships between family conflict, minority stress, PTSS and physical symptoms. Specifically, those participants who are high in minority stress are vulnerable to family conflict resulting in increased PTSS and physical symptoms. Psychological symptoms mediated these relationships.