Discriminatory experiences and depression among Chinese lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals in the United States: A moderated mediation modeling analysis

Abstract

Chinese individuals in the U.S. have suffered substantial discrimination during the COVID19 pandemic, a stressor exacerbated by multiple minority identities (e.g., sexual and gender minority). This study aimed to explore the mechanisms of discriminatory experiences, specifically how it interacted with stressors like internalized homophobia and protective factors such as resilience, to affect depressive symptoms among Chinese individuals with multiple minority identities. Between 2022-2023, 272 Chinese LGB individuals residing in the U.S. (Mean[age]=28.36; SD=5.01) was surveyed anonymously using the Everyday discrimination Scale, the Internalized Homophobia Scale, the Conner-Davidson Resilience scale, and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Moderation and mediation analyses were conducted using STATA 17 and JASP 0.18.3. Replicating the positive association between discriminatory experience and depressive symptoms, we found that discrimination explained depressive symptoms directly and through increasing internalized homophobia. As a protective factor, resilience moderated the internalized homophobia-depressive symptoms link, but not the discrimination-depressive symptoms link. For Chinese LGB individuals with higher levels of resilience, the positive impact of internalized homophobia on depressive symptoms was weaker compared to those with lower resilience. Our findings further the understanding of the mediating and moderating mechanisms between discriminatory experiences and depressive symptoms among individuals with multiple minority identities. Continued research and intervention development on promoting resilience and other protective factors tailored to Chinese LGB individuals in the U.S. are crucial for improving mental health.