ABSTRACT

Acceptance concerns and internalised homonegativity are associated with deleterious health outcomes for sexual minority persons, including psychological stress. However, previous studies examining the effects of proximal minority stressors (including acceptance concerns and internalised homonegativity) on stress have been limited by their cross-sectional approach. The present study extends past research by examining the temporal relationship between two minority stress processes – acceptance concerns and internalised homonegativity – and perceived stress. Ninety-four sexual minority participants (M = 25.6 years; SD = 9.1 years) recruited from American university listservs completed online measures assessing minority stress and perceived stress. Then, one year later, participants completed the same measure of perceived stress. Structural equation modelling of latent variables examined effects of minority stress on perceived stress one year later, controlling for perceived stress at the initial time of data collection. Analyses revealed that internalised homonegativity – but not acceptance concerns – predicted perceived stress one year later. Implications at the macrolevel and microlevel are discussed, including important and relevant public policy directions to help ameliorate mental health disparities in sexual minority populations. We also identify strategies for policy and health professionals, such as enacting inclusive policies and recognising and celebrating the strengths of sexual minority individuals.

摘要

接受问题和内化的同质性与性少数群体的有害健康结果有关，包括心理压力。然而，先前研究近端少数压力源（包括接受问题和内化同质性）对压力的影响的研究受到横断面方法的限制。本研究通过检查两个少数群体压力过程（接受关注和内化同质性）与感知压力之间的时间关系来扩展过去的研究。94 名性少数参与者（M = 25.6 岁；SD = 9.1 年）从美国大学列表服务中招募完成了评估少数族裔压力和感知压力的在线测量。然后，一年后，参与者完成了相同的感知压力测量。潜变量的结构方程模型检查了一年后少数人压力对感知压力的影响，在数据收集的初始时间控制感知压力。分析表明，内化的同质性——但不是接受问题——预测了一年后感知到的压力。讨论了宏观和微观层面的影响，包括重要和相关的公共政策方向，以帮助改善性少数群体的心理健康差异。我们还为政策和卫生专业人员确定策略，