Heterosexism and LGB Positive Identity: Roles of Coping and Personal Growth Initiative

Abstract

To combat the prevailing deficit and dysfunction paradigm, scholars have called for research focusing on LGB individuals from a positive psychology perspective. Thus, we examined the mediating roles of coping with discrimination via resistance and education/advocacy in the relations between heterosexist discrimination and positive LGB identity among 356 LGB persons. We also examined the potential moderating role of personal growth initiative between (a) heterosexist discrimination and five positive LGB identity dimensions, (b) heterosexist discrimination and engagement coping, and (c) engagement coping and the LGB identity dimensions. Findings revealed that coping with discrimination via education/advocacy mediated the relationships between heterosexist discrimination and belonging to the LGB community, commitment to social justice, self-awareness, authenticity, and relationship intimacy links. We also found coping via education/advocacy predicted both commitment to social justice and self-awareness for LGB persons with low and high personal growth initiative, with stronger relations for those with low personal growth initiative.