Kaysen Debra, Kulesza Magdalena, Balsam Kimberly F, Rhew Isaac C, Blayney Jessica A, Lehavot Keren, Hughes Tonda L
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle 98195.
School of Social Work, University of Washington, Seattle 98195.
Psychol Sex Orientat Gend Divers. 2014 Sep;1(3):225-233. doi: 10.1037/sgd0000045.
Sexual minorities have higher rates of depression and anxiety than their heterosexual counterparts. This elevated risk of psychological distress has generally been hypothesized to be a result of the effects of discrimination including internalized negative beliefs about sexual minorities. However, little research has examined the role of various types of coping in mediating between internalized homophobia and mental health. We tested the direct relationship between internalized homophobia and psychological distress and evaluated general and sexual minority-specific coping strategies as potential mediators using structural equation modeling. Data are from a national sample of 1,099 young adult sexual minority women who were on average 20.86 (= 2.12) years old, participating in a study on mental health and substance use. The model demonstrated acceptable fit, (83) = 402.9, <.001, =.94, =.92, = .07, and =.06, accounting for 73% of variance in psychological distress. Greater use of maladaptive coping and less use of sexual minority-specific coping were associated with higher psychological distress. Although maladaptive coping mediated the relationship between internalized homophobia and psychological distress, sexual minority-specific coping did not. Our findings support previous studies that have demonstrated the impact of internalized homophobia on psychological distress as well as the role of coping as a protective/risk factor in this relationship.
性少数群体比异性恋者患抑郁症和焦虑症的比例更高。心理困扰风险的升高通常被认为是歧视影响的结果，包括对性少数群体的内化负面信念。然而，很少有研究探讨各种应对方式在调节内化恐同症与心理健康之间的作用。我们使用结构方程模型测试了内化恐同症与心理困扰之间的直接关系，并评估了一般应对策略和针对性少数群体的应对策略作为潜在中介变量的作用。数据来自全国范围内1099名年轻成年性少数女性的样本，她们平均年龄为20.86（=2.12）岁，参与了一项关于心理健康和物质使用的研究。该模型显示出可接受的拟合度，（83）=402.9，<.001，=.94，=.92，=.07，=.06，解释了心理困扰中73%的方差。更多地使用适应不良的应对方式和更少地使用针对性少数群体的应对方式与更高的心理困扰相关。虽然适应不良的应对方式介导了内化恐同症与心理困扰之间的关系，但针对性少数群体的应对方式并未起到中介作用。我们的研究结果支持了先前的研究，这些研究表明内化恐同症对心理困扰的影响以及应对方式在这种关系中作为保护/风险因素的作用。
