Prejudice Events Research Articles

Minority stress and relationship satisfaction in same‐sex couples: A meta‐analysis

AbstractObjectiveThe present study conducted a meta‐analysis to synthesize the associations between sexual minority stress and relationship satisfaction, as well as to examine actor and partner effects.BackgroundSexual minority individuals in same‐sex couples experience various distinct and chronic stressors related to their stigmatized identities and romantic relationships, and these stressors negatively impact relationship satisfaction. Although there have been two meta‐analyses that sought to examine these influences, some fundamental questions remain unanswered. In particular, the roles of dyadic processes and different types of sexual minority stressors remain unclear.MethodA comprehensive search identified 67 studies with 147 effect sizes representing 24,542 individuals.ResultsThe results revealed a significant small association (r = −.100 to −.188) between sexual minority stressors and relationship satisfaction. Internalized stressors were more strongly associated with relationship satisfaction than other types of sexual minority stressors (e.g., prejudice events and concealment). Dyadic analyses demonstrated a significant actor effect of concealment, experiencing prejudice events, and internalized stressors on relationship satisfaction, with the largest effect size for concealment effects.ConclusionThese findings suggest that sexual minority stressors could potentially contribute to same‐sex relational problems. They also underscore the importance of interdependence (both partners' responses as well as their interaction with sexual minority stressors). This understanding may be instrumental in shaping prevention strategies.ImplicationsThe meta‐analysis emphasizes the nuanced impact of sexual minority stressors on same‐sex relationship satisfaction, highlighting the importance of targeted interventions. It underscores the role of dyadic processes, emphasizing the significance of both partners' responses and interactions with stressors in developing effective prevention strategies for healthier same‐sex relationships.

Depressive Symptoms of Homophobic Bullying Victims among LGB Adolescents in the Chinese Mainland A Case Study Analysis

In recent years, depression has become more common among younger age groups in the Chinese Mainland. However, only a small amount of study has examined the prevalence of depression among lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) adolescents, and little is known about how prejudice events such as homophobic bullying may impact this groups rates of depression. Therefore, the present study aimed to identify the prevalence of depressive symptoms following experiences of bullying victimization among LGB adolescents. A case study analysis was performed using secondary sources from online surveys conducted by Common Language, Beijing LGBT Center, and international literature in sociology, psychology, and public health. The study demonstrated that victims of homophobic bullying frequently encounter issues with depressive symptoms. The psychological well-being of victims is greatly affected by challenges including an absence of social support, internalized homophobia, perceived discrimination, and hostile school climates. The resilience framework can offer insights on how to improve their mental health by using effective strategies for coping and intervention programs to address the issue.

Testing the minority stress model across gender identity, race, and ethnicity among U.S. gender minority adolescents.

Gender minority (GM) youth are at heightened risk for psychopathology, purportedly due to their experiences of GM stressors. However, few studies have examined how GM stressors are associated with depression and anxiety among GM youth. Furthermore, no prior studies have investigated how experiences of GM stressors differ across gender identity and race/ethnicity within a diverse sample of GM youth. A nationwide online cross-sectional survey of 1,943 fourteen- to 18-year-old GM adolescents (66.91% White, 11.73% multiracial, 8.49% Latinx, 7.10% Black, 3.09% Asian, 1.49% American Indian/Alaskan Native) in the United States assessed GM stressors (prejudice events, expectations of rejection, internalized transnegativity, and concealment) and mental health. Structural equation modeling was used to examine how GM stressors and depressive and anxiety symptoms differ across gender identity and race/ethnicity. Higher levels of each GM stressor were related to higher depressive symptoms. Prejudice events, expectations of rejection, and concealment were related to higher anxiety symptoms. Transmasculine and transfeminine youth reported higher levels of GM prejudice events and expectations of rejection, and higher mental health symptoms, than nonbinary youth. Findings were relatively consistent across racial/ethnic identities, with the exception that Black GM adolescents reported fewer GM prejudice events and expectations of rejection and indirectly exhibited lower mental health symptoms as compared to White GM youth. Researchers and clinicians should be attuned to how intersectional identities are related to stress and mental health among diverse GM youth. Recommendations for individual and structural-level interventions are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Linking Public Opinion Perception, Minority, and Stigma – An Integrated Model of Hiding Male Same-Sex Affection in Public

ABSTRACT Inspired by the question of why some gay and bisexual men hide same-sex affection when in public, this study integrates the concept of minority stress into Noelle-Neumann’s spiral of silence theory and Goffman’s interaction order to build an integrated model explaining why some people avoid nonverbal stigma expression in public. It is hypothesized that perceived stigma, prejudice events, and internalized stigma will result in a greater tendency to hide male same-sex affection. An empirical study involving n = 25,884 gay and bisexual men in Germany showed that higher levels of perceived stigma and internalized stigma were associated with a greater tendency to hide male same-sex affection when in public. However, being a victim of prejudice events did not substantially predict whether individuals hide their male same-sex affection. Findings are discussed in terms of their generalizability and implications for the underlying theory.

Differences by sex and gender in the association between minority stress and alcohol use among sexual and gender minority youth: A daily diary study

RationaleSexual and gender minority (SGM) youth consume more alcohol than their heterosexual, cisgender peers. The experience of minority stress is theorized to explain these disparities. Research often neglects the day-to-day variability in minority stress that SGM youth encounter and whether alcohol use is associated with daily experiences of minority stress. Further, there is heterogeneity in alcohol use among SGM youth. Sex assigned at birth and gender identity could potentially explain this heterogeneity. ObjectiveTherefore, this study aimed to examine whether daily experiences of minority stress were associated with daily alcohol use among SGM youth and how these associations differed by sex assigned at birth and gender identity. MethodsA 14-day daily diary study was conducted among 393 Dutch SGM youth (M age = 18.36 SD = 2.65). ResultsResults showed few significant associations between both mean levels of minority stress and daily experiences with minority stress with alcohol use. However, higher mean levels of prejudice events were associated with higher odds of daily alcohol use (OR = 7.01, 95% CI: 1.20–40.89). Daily experiences with identity concealment were associated with lower odds of daily alcohol use for males (OR = 0.72, 95% CI: 0.60–0.86), but not for females (OR = 1.11, 95% CI: 0.93–1.32). Further, for cisgender youth, daily experiences with prejudice events were associated with higher odds of alcohol use (OR = 1.99, 95% CI: 1.05–3.78), but this was not the case for gender minority youth (OR = 0.42, 95% CI: 0.15–1.18). ConclusionsThe findings showed few significant associations between minority stressors and alcohol use, but daily experiences of concealment and prejudice events were associated with daily alcohol use and these associations varied by sex assigned at birth and gender identity, respectively.

Minority Stress, Coping, and Transgender Youth in Schools-Results from the Resilience and Transgender Youth Study.

Transgender youth report high rates of negative experiences in schools. Using a lens of minority stress, this study sought to examine in-school experiences of transgender youth to understand youth coping and to identify key opportunities for improving school environments for transgender youth. Participants included 41 youth across 33 in-depth interviews (Mage =21.7) and two focus groups (N=8; Mage =17.3). Thematic analysis was used to analyze data. Themes related to stress, coping, and facilitators/barriers to stress/coping were derived and coded. Distal stressors, such as structural discrimination and prejudice events, were found to contribute to the exclusion of transgender youth from school life, while proximal stressors, such as concealment and expectations of rejection, reinforced transgender youth's feelings of personal isolation. Participants expressed coping with both challenges by advocating for inclusion through direct action with teachers and administrators and seeking/finding connection with trusted staff and peers. Findings suggest that creating safe and supportive environments at school for transgender youth is an attainable goal, as all identified barriers to inclusivity and connection were modifiable. By considering the needs of transgender youth in policies and programming, schools may improve climate for and wellbeing of transgender students.

Gender Nonconformity and Minority Stress Among Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Individuals: A Meta-Analytic Review

Lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals are less healthy than heterosexual individuals, and minority stress endured by LGB individuals contributes to these health disparities. However, within-groups differences in minority stress experiences among LGB individuals remain underexplored. Individuals are more likely to be categorized as LGB if they exhibit gender nonconformity, so gender nonconformity could influence concealability of sexual orientation among LGB individuals, carrying important implications for the visibility of their stigmatized sexual orientation identity and for how they experience and cope with minority stress. Through a meta-analytic review, we examined how gender nonconformity was associated with minority stress experiences among LGB individuals. Thirty-seven eligible studies were identified and included in analyses. Results indicate gender nonconformity is associated with experiencing more prejudice events, less concealment of sexual orientation, lower internalized homonegativity, and higher expectations of rejection related to sexual orientation among LGB individuals. Gender nonconformity is more strongly associated with experiencing prejudice events among gay and bisexual men than among lesbian and bisexual women. Gender nonconformity is systematically associated with minority stress experiences among LGB individuals, and future research must measure and examine gender nonconformity when investigating the role of minority stress in degraded health outcomes among LGB populations.

Is Being Queer Gay? Sexual Attraction Patterns, Minority Stressors, and Psychological Distress in Non-Traditional Categories of Sexual Orientation

ABSTRACT This study examined characteristics of cisgender people who use non-traditional sexual orientation labels and investigated minority stress in these groups. Pansexual (n = 160), queer (n = 80), and asexual (n = 98) participants were compared with heterosexual (n = 1,021), bisexual (n = 1,518), and lesbian/gay (n = 2,730) individuals recruited from a cross-sectional survey. Participants were compared on sexual attraction, age, gender and childhood gender nonconformity. Hierarchical regression models with psychological distress as the dependent variable and outness, prejudice events, expectations of rejection, self-stigma, and rumination as independent variables were then tested in pansexual, queer, and asexual individuals. Sexual attraction, age, gender and recalled childhood gender nonconformity were significant predictors of group identity. Pansexual individuals were not significantly distinct from bisexual individuals in sexual attraction. Queer individuals fell between bisexual and lesbian/gay individuals in sexual attraction scores. Prejudice events and rumination were significantly associated with distress in all three non-traditional groups. Rumination scores attenuated the relationship between prejudice events and distress in all groups. These findings help characterize pansexual, asexual and queer individuals and suggest indirect effects of prejudice events on distress via rumination represent a worthy avenue for future minority stress research in these groups.

Addressing Minority Stress and Mental Health among Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM) in China.

Purpose of ReviewMen who have sex with men (MSM) in China experience elevated risks of mental health issues in comparison to the general population in China, which contribute to vulnerability to HIV/STI risks and can comprise the effectiveness of HIV prevention efforts. A conceptual framework for understanding this mental health disparity is minority stress theory, which posits that experiences of external prejudice events (i.e., distal stressors) and internal stress processes such as internalized homophobia and concealment (i.e., proximal stressors) contribute to sexual minorities’ elevated risk of psychological distress. To deepen the understanding of mental health among Chinese MSM and explore the potential utility of minority stress theory in this population, this paper synthesizes research evidence regarding prevalent mental health issues as well as how minority stress may be linked to psychological health in Chinese MSM.Recent FindingsResults indicate that Chinese MSM experience a high prevalence of several mental health issues including depression, anxiety, suicidal behaviors, and alcohol dependence.SummaryThis review further reveals minority stress to be an important determinant of psychological distress among Chinese MSM, though evidence is mixed regarding the relationship between proximal minority stress and psychological health. Nonetheless, there is a lack of mental health services and interventions focusing on MSM in China. Culturally relevant, competent, and LGBT-affirmative mental health interventions are needed for Chinese MSM. To guide future intervention research, we provide considerations for reducing minority stress and promoting psychological health among Chinese MSM.

Minority Stressors, Rumination, and Psychological Distress in Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Individuals

This study tested the mechanisms by which social stigma contributes to psychological distress in lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals. A large community sample (N = 4248, M age = 29.9 years, 42.9% female, 57.1% male, 35.7% bisexual, 64.3% lesbian/gay, 9.9% non-white) was recruited using targeted and general advertisements for an online cross-sectional survey. Participants completed measures of childhood gender nonconformity, prejudice events, victimization, microaggressions, sexual orientation concealment, sexual orientation disclosure, expectations of rejection, self-stigma, rumination, and distress. Structural equation modeling was used to test the relationships between these variables in a model based upon minority stress theory and the integrative mediation framework with childhood gender nonconformity as the initial independent variable and distress (depression, anxiety, and well-being) as the final dependent variable. The results broadly support the hypothesized model. The final model had good fit χ2(37) = 440.99, p < .001, TLI = .96, CFI = .98, RMSEA = .05 [.05, .06] and explained 50.2% of the variance in psychological distress and 24.8% in rumination. Sexual orientation and gender had moderating effects on some individual paths. Results should be considered in the context of the cross-sectional nature of the data, which prevented tests of causality, and self-report measures used, which are vulnerable to bias. Findings indicate strong relationships between minority stressors and psychological distress in lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals, which are partially accounted for by rumination. These results may inform the development of interventions that address the added burden of minority stress among lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals.

Parenting Desire and Minority Stress in Lesbians and Gay Men: A Mediation Framework.

Despite the rapid increase in lesbian and gay (LG) people who desire and decide to become parents, LG childless individuals may encounter serious obstacles in the parenthood process, such as minority stress. Notwithstanding, the psychological processes by which prejudice events might affect the desire to become parents are still understudied. As an extension of the minority stress theory, the psychological mediation framework sheds light on these psychological processes, as it encompasses a more clinical view of stress. Within this framework, the current study aimed at assessing the role of prejudice events in affecting parenting desire in 290 childless Italian LG individuals (120 lesbians and 170 gay men), as well as the role of internalized heterosexism and sexual orientation concealment in mediating the relationship between prejudice events and parenting desire. The results suggest that only in lesbians prejudice events were negatively associated with parenting desire, and that sexual orientation concealment and internalized heterosexism were also negatively associated with parenting desire. Furthermore, sexual orientation concealment, and not internalized heterosexism, mediated the relationship between prejudice events and parenting desire in lesbians, but not gay men. The findings have important implications for clinical practice.

Minority Stress and LGB-Inclusive Television Viewing Frequency Among LGB Adults: The Roles of Community Connectedness and Perceived Social Support

Using a cross-sectional, correlational design, the present study examined the moderating roles of perceived social support and community connectedness in the relationship between minority stress and viewing frequency of lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB)–inclusive television shows among LGB adults. Participants identified predominately as White and female, and the largest group identified as bisexual. Participants completed self-report measures of minority stressors, social support, LGB community connectedness, and viewing frequency. A multiple linear regression was conducted to examine the relationships among these variables. Findings revealed that perceived social support moderated the effect of prejudice events on viewing frequency, such that LGB viewers who reported high levels of prejudice events and low perceived social support endorsed the highest levels of viewing frequency. These findings provide further insight into the ways in which LGB individuals consume media content and may be informative for clinicians in understanding coping strategies for minority stress among LGB clients.

The Influence of Minority Stress, Gender, and Legalization of Civil Unions on Parenting Desire and Intention in Lesbian Women and Gay Men: Implications for Social Policy and Clinical Practice

ABSTRACTAlthough the rate of lesbian and gay (LG) parents is increasing, lesbian and gay adults are less likely than heterosexual adults to be parents, as desire and intention to become a parent tend to be lower. This study aims at assessing 290 childless LG individuals (120 lesbian women and 170 gay men) to explore the influence of minority stress, gender differences, and legalization of civil unions in Italy on parenting desire and intention. The results indicated that the minority stressors associated with parenting dimensions included prejudice events, outness, and internalized homophobia for lesbian women, but only felt stigma among gay men. Support from family or significant others buffered the effects of minority stressors on parenting dimensions. Thus, the minority stress processes partly explain the intention and desire to become parents in LG childless individuals. Furthermore, lesbian women showed higher levels of parenting desire and intention than gay men and the levels of these parenting dimensions increased after the law on civil unions was enacted. The findings have important implications for both social policies and clinical practice.

Minority stressors, rumination, and psychological distress in monozygotic twins discordant for sexual minority status

Lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals report higher levels of depression and anxiety than heterosexual people. Genetic factors may be a 'common cause' of sexual minority status and psychological distress. Alternatively, these may be correlated because of non-genetic environmental factors (e.g. minority stressors). This study investigated minority stressors and distress in monozygotic twins discordant for sexual minority status. This design provides a test of the role of non-shared environmental factors while minimizing differences due to genetics. Thirty-eight twin pairs in which one was heterosexual and the other was LGB completed a survey. Differences between twin pairs in minority stressors, rumination, psychological distress, and gender non-conformity were examined. Associations between these variables were also tested. Although there were no significant group differences for distress, LGB twins had higher rumination, a vulnerability factor for distress, than heterosexual co-twins. LGB twins also had higher scores than heterosexual co-twins on expectations of rejection, active concealment, self-stigma, prejudice events, childhood gender non-conformity, and lower scores on sexual orientation disclosure. Differences between twin pairs in rumination were positively associated with differences in acceptance concerns and self-stigma. Finally, self-stigma was positively associated with rumination in the full sample of heterosexual co-twins and microaggressions were positively associated with rumination when looking at exclusively heterosexual co-twins. These results support environmental factors as a causal explanation for disparities in rumination between LGB and heterosexual individuals. These factors likely include minority stressors. Rumination may also be associated with minority stressors in heterosexual MZ co-twins of LGB individuals.

Minority Stress, Resilience, and Mental Health: A Study of Italian Transgender People

AbstractTransgender people often experience oppression because of gender nonconformity. They represent an extremely stigmatized population at high risk of developing mental health problems. The minority stress model is a theoretical model used to understand social stigma as a potential cause of mental health disparities faced by the transgender population. In Italy, studies applying this model to the transgender population are limited. The current study applied the minority stress model to a sample of Italian transgender people (n = 149), analyzing effects of prejudice events, expectations of rejection, and internalized transphobia, and their interaction with protective factors (resilience and social support), on mental health. The results suggest that exposure to everyday discrimination and internalized transphobia are associated with increased mental health problems, while perceived social support from family and resilience significantly reduced the strength of association between everyday discrimination and mental health. Findings have important implications for both social issues and policies.

Current Challenges in the Management of LGBT Suicide

Current Challenges in the Management of LGBT Suicide

Locus of control, minority stress, and psychological distress among lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals.

Within the framework of minority stress theory, lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals are conceptualized as members of a minority group defined by sexual orientation. Two of the component processes of minority stress hypothesized by Meyer (2003), internalized heterosexism and the experience of prejudice events, were examined in the current study. Both internalized heterosexism and the experience of prejudice events have been associated with increased psychological distress in LGB populations. Researchers have also observed a relationship between external locus of control and increased psychological distress in general population samples. The current study explored whether locus of control served as a moderator in the relationship between the overall psychological distress of LGB individuals and both internalized heterosexism and the experience of workplace-based prejudice events (n = 165). Results indicated that locus of control served as a moderator in the relationship between experience of workplace-based prejudice events and overall psychological distress but not for the relationship between internalized heterosexism and distress.

A Framework for Incorporating Minority Stress Theory into Treatment with Sexual Minority Clients

Empirical research has consistently demonstrated the negative mental health consequences of minority stress among lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) populations; however, there is little understanding of how minority stress should be addressed in the actual clinical situation. This article discusses how to incorporate minority stress theory into clinical practice with LGB clients. A proposed framework begins with a two-part clinical assessment. The first part, based on Meyer's (2003) minority stress model, examines the effects of prejudice events, stigma, internalized homophobia, and sexual orientation concealment. The second part, grounded in Hatzenbuelher's (2009) work, examines the client's coping/emotional regulation, social/interpersonal, and cognitive processes, which can be elevated by minority stress. Following the assessment process, the framework suggests using a LGB-affirmative treatment approach. To demonstrate the clinical utility of the framework it will be applied to the treatment of a client identifying as lesbian.

Prejudice Events and Traumatic Stress among Heterosexuals and Lesbians, Gay Men, and Bisexuals

This mixed-methods study examined associations between prejudice events and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among 382 lesbians, gays, and bisexuals (LGB) and 126 heterosexuals. Using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview, we assessed PTSD with a relaxed Criterion A1; that is, we allowed events that did not involve threat to life or physical integrity to also qualify as traumatic. We first assessed whether exposure to prejudice-related qualifying events differed with respect to participants' sexual orientation and race. We found that White LGBs were more likely than White heterosexuals to encounter a prejudice-related qualifying event, and among LGBs, Black and Latino LGBs were no more likely than White LGBs to experience this type of event. We then used qualitative analysis of participants' brief narratives to examine prejudice events that precipitated Relaxed Criterion A1 PTSD among 8 participants. Two themes emerged: (a) the need to make major changes, and (b) compromised sense of safety and security following exposure to the prejudice event.

“What I wanted to do was…” Discrepancies Between College Women’s Desired and Reported Responses to Gender Prejudice

When experiencing gender prejudice, college women engage in a dynamic decision making process about whether and how to respond. We examined the discrepancy between how college women wanted to respond and how they actually responded to gender prejudice events and explored their reasons for not using a desired response. In this study, 81 college women from the Western United States responded to a qualitative online daily diary about gender prejudice. In 34% (N = 265) of the events, the women reported there was a discrepancy between what they wanted to do and how they actually reacted, with the most common discrepancy being a desire to utilize a confrontational response (91%, N = 242). Over the two week period, women reported significantly more events during which they considered the use of a confrontational response (N = 242) than they actually used one (N = 199). Women’s reported reasons for not using their desired response included: not being cost effective (25%), concern about social norms (37%), setting limitations (19%), personality characteristics (9%) and not being bothered enough by the event (10%). We also found that when women considered using a confrontational response but decided not to, they reported using all other response types instead. In these cases, women who did nothing during the event reported lower levels of distress during the event than women who used a psychological response or a different confrontational response. Implications and future research directions are discussed.