Chronic illness and disability among sexual minority persons: Exploring the roles of proximal minority stress, adaptation, and quality of life.

Abstract

This cross-sectional, correlational study examined the associations between proximal minority stress, psychosocial adaptation to chronic illnesses and disabilities (CIDs), and quality of life with a sample of 160 sexual minority persons. Data used in this study came from a larger online survey study conducted in the United States. Original survey procedures used targeted online sampling to recruit participants via Internet and social media venues directed toward sexual minority, gender minority, and disability communities. Participants were 29.65 years of age on average and reported living with either physical, sensory, cognitive, developmental, or psychiatric CID conditions. As part of the online survey, participants responded to measures of internalized heterosexism, stigma consciousness, outness, reactions to impairment and disability, and quality of life functioning. Findings revealed that proximal minority stressors are associated with poorer psychosocial adaptation and quality of life functioning for sexual minority persons living with CIDs. Clinicians should attend to proximal minority stress when providing clinical services to sexual minority persons living with CIDs.