The Role of Sexual Identity: Associations Between Minority Stress with Substance Use Disorder and Mental Health
Abstract
Sexual minorities, particularly bisexuals, are vulnerable to minority stress-driven mental health challenges due to identities that transgress heterosexual norms. The purpose of this study was to determine whether minority stressors are associated with depressive symptomatology, psychosocial well-being, and substance use disorder and whether these associations differ by sexual identity. This is a secondary data analysis of baseline data from Project STRIDE involving a nonprobability sample of 376 lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) adults in New York City. Internalized homophobia (B = .16, p < .01) and everyday discrimination (B = .24, p < .001) were significant in the model for depressive symptomatology. Internalized homophobia (B = -.29, p < .001), stigma (B = -.13, p < .05), and everyday discrimination (B = -.19, p < .01) were significant in the model for psychological well-being. Internalized homophobia (B = -.27, p < .01) and stigma (B = -.17, p < .05) were significant in the model for social well-being. Everyday discrimination was significant in the model for substance use disorder (OR = 2.03, p < .01). Sexual identity did not moderate the associations between the minority stress variables and the mental health outcomes. Study findings demonstrate the importance of addressing the negative impact of multifactorial minority stressors on the mental health of LGB individuals.
Subject Area
LGBTQ studies|Mental health
Recommended Citation
Matsuzaka, Sara, "The Role of Sexual Identity: Associations Between Minority Stress with Substance Use Disorder and Mental Health" (2020). ETD Collection for Fordham University. AAI27964429.
https://research.library.fordham.edu/dissertations/AAI27964429
