TY - JOUR
T1 - Internalized Heterosexism and Psychological Distress
T2 - The Longitudinal Mediating Effect of LGBTQ+ Community Connectedness
AU - Huynh, Kiet D.
AU - Colson, Alex
AU - Matsuno, Em
AU - Balsam, Kimberly
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2024.
PY - 2025/1
Y1 - 2025/1
N2 - This study examined the influences of internalized heterosexism (IH) and LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer) community connectedness on distress by testing two competing hypotheses: the connectedness as a form of coping hypothesis and the connectedness as an explanatory process hypothesis. These hypotheses were tested with a random intercept cross-lagged panel model using a three-wave archival longitudinal dataset with a nationally represented probability sample of 1,518 cisgender and nonbinary LGBQ+ individuals. Results supported the connectedness as a form of coping hypothesis, showing that the effect of IH on distress was mediated by increased connectedness, such that increased IH at time 1 predicted increased connectedness at time 2, which predicted decreased distress at time 3. These results provide evidence that LGBQ+ individuals may cope with IH by seeking connections with other LGBQ+ people, which has positive benefits for mental health. Implications for research, clinical practice, and policy are discussed.
AB - This study examined the influences of internalized heterosexism (IH) and LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer) community connectedness on distress by testing two competing hypotheses: the connectedness as a form of coping hypothesis and the connectedness as an explanatory process hypothesis. These hypotheses were tested with a random intercept cross-lagged panel model using a three-wave archival longitudinal dataset with a nationally represented probability sample of 1,518 cisgender and nonbinary LGBQ+ individuals. Results supported the connectedness as a form of coping hypothesis, showing that the effect of IH on distress was mediated by increased connectedness, such that increased IH at time 1 predicted increased connectedness at time 2, which predicted decreased distress at time 3. These results provide evidence that LGBQ+ individuals may cope with IH by seeking connections with other LGBQ+ people, which has positive benefits for mental health. Implications for research, clinical practice, and policy are discussed.
KW - LGBTQ+ health
KW - coping
KW - internalized stigma
KW - proximal stress
KW - resilience
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85211814924&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85211814924&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/00110000241303779
DO - 10.1177/00110000241303779
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85211814924
SN - 0011-0000
VL - 53
SP - 121
EP - 142
JO - Counseling Psychologist
JF - Counseling Psychologist
IS - 1
ER -