Relationships of Sexual Orientation Microaggression with Anxiety and Depression among Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Taiwanese Youth: Self-Identity Disturbance Mediates but Gender Does Not Moderate the Relationships.

Jung-Sheng Chen,Mark D Griffiths,Yu-Te Huang,Cheng-Fang Yen,Amir H Pakpour,Chung-Ying Lin

doi:10.3390/ijerph182412981

Abstract

The aims of this cross-sectional survey study were to examine the association between sexual orientation microaggression and anxiety and depression among young adult lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals in Taiwan, as well as to examine the mediating effect of self-identity disturbance and the moderating effect of gender. In total, 1000 self-identified LGB individuals participated in the study. The experience of sexual orientation microaggression was assessed using the Sexual Orientation Microaggression Inventory, self-identity disturbance was assessed using the Self-Concept and Identity Measure, anxiety was assessed using the State subscale on the Chinese version of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and depression was assessed using the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to examine relationships between the variables. The SEM results demonstrated that sexual orientation microaggression was directly associated with increased anxiety and depression, as well as being indirectly associated with increased anxiety and depression via the mediation of self-identity disturbance among young adult LGB individuals. Gender did not moderate the relationships between any of the variables. Both sexual orientation microaggression and self-identity disturbance warrant program interventions for enhancing mental health among LGB individuals.

Highlights

Lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals experience more severe anxiety and depression compared with their heterosexual peers [1,2]
The results indicated that gender did not moderate the associations of sexual orientation microaggression with anxiety and depression or the mediation of self-identity disturbance
The the present presentstudy studydemonstrated demonstratedthat that sexual orientation microaggreswas was directly associated withwith increased anxiety and depression, as well as being indirectly sion directly associated increased anxiety and depression, as well as being indiassociated with increased anxiety and depression via thevia mediation of self-identity disturrectly associated with increased anxiety and depression the mediation of self-identity bance among youngyoung adult LGB

Summary

Introduction

Gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals experience more severe anxiety and depression compared with their heterosexual peers [1,2]. Disparities in mental health among LGB individuals adversely affect their development in social relationships, as well as academic and occupational achievements [3]. Various forms of stigma at the individual level (e.g., identity concealment), interpersonal level (e.g., bullying victimization), and structural level (e.g., laws and social norms) increase the risk of adverse health outcomes among young LGB individuals [4,5,6]. In addition to overt acts of sexual prejudice, young. LGB individuals may experience covert acts of sexual prejudice, such as sexual orientation microaggression [7,8]. Sexual orientation microaggression is further classified into three forms: microassault, microinsult, and microinvalidation [8,9]

Results

Discussion

Conclusion