Sexual minority quality of life: The indirect effect of public stigma through self-compassion, authenticity, and internalized stigma.

Williams, Stacey L.; Fredrick, Emma G.; LaDuke, Sheri L.

doi:10.1037/sah0000176

Cited by 18 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…Two studies that included measures of both proximal and distal minority stress tested serial mediation models. Fredrick et al (2020) demonstrated a significant indirect effect of public stigma on quality of life through internalized stigma and self-compassion in a sample of SGM participants. Similarly, Liao et al (2015) demonstrated an indirect effect of perceived discrimination on psychological distress through expectations of rejection and self-compassion.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 90%

Self-compassion, minority stress, and mental health in sexual and gender minority populations: A meta-analysis and systematic review.

Helminen¹,

Ducar²,

Scheer³

et al. 2023

Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice

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Sexual and gender minority (SGM) populations report numerous mental health disparities relative to heterosexual and cisgender populations, due in part to the effects of minority stress. This article evaluated self-compassion as a coping resource among SGM populations by (a) meta-analyzing the associations between self-compassion, minority stress, and mental health; and (b) synthesizing evidence for the mediating effects of self-compassion between minority stress and mental health. Systematic searches of databases identified 21 papers for the systematic review and 19 for the meta-analysis. Significant metaanalytic associations were found between self-compassion and minority stress (n = 4,296, r = À.29), psychological distress (n = 3,931, r = À.59), and well-being (n = 2,493, r = .50). The research synthesis identified supporting evidence for self-compassion as a coping resource for SGM people. The results of this review warrant further self-compassion research, particularly longitudinal research, for SGM populations. Public Health Significance StatementFindings from this meta-analysis and systematic review suggest that self-compassion may be an important coping resource to buffer against minority stress among sexual and gender minority populations at risk for mental health problems. Results from this review provide evidence from which to begin developing and implementing self-compassion interventions for sexual and gender minority populations to improve mental health.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 90%

Self-compassion, minority stress, and mental health in sexual and gender minority populations: A meta-analysis and systematic review.

Helminen¹,

Ducar²,

Scheer³

et al. 2023

Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice

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“…In other words, for this population, shaming traumatic homophobic experiences seem to impact psychopathology partially through the lack of compassionate actions. In fact, self-compassion has been indicated as a positive psychological process for well-being in this population [ 70 , 71 , 72 ]. These results seem consistent with other studies that presented negative and moderate correlations between shame and self-compassion [ 50 ], including other minority populations (e.g., people living with HIV) [ 73 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Shame-Based Experiences of Homophobic Bullying and Mental Health: The Mediating Role of Self-Compassionate Actions

Seabra

Gato

Carreiras

et al. 2022

IJERPH

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Homophobic experiences with traumatic characteristics related to shame are more frequent among sexual minority (SM) than heterosexual individuals. Concurrently, SM individuals present higher levels of psychopathology and transdiagnostic processes (e.g., shame) than heterosexual individuals. Self-compassion has been identified as a protective mechanism that counteracts the effects of shame. The current study aimed to analyse which components of self-compassion affect mental health and test the mediating role of self-compassion in the relationship between feelings of shame in traumatic homophobic bullying experiences (THBEs) and psychopathology indicators (depression, anxiety, and social anxiety symptoms). In this study, 190 Portuguese SM individuals (Mage = 28.3, SD = 7.5) completed self-report measures assessing traumatic experiences, self-compassion, and psychopathology. Data were explored with SPSS and AMOS. Regression analyses showed that internal shame felt during THBE and compassionate actions predicted psychopathology outcomes. Mediation analyses revealed that internal shame during a THBE had a significant indirect effect on all psychopathology outcomes through compassionate actions. In other words, internal shame during a THBE was significantly associated with depression, anxiety, and social anxiety, and these relationships were partially mediated by compassionate actions. Our results reinforce the importance of developing compassionate actions towards the self as a possible protective factor for psychopathology among SM individuals.

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“…There is also evidence that holding a positive SGM identity may protect mental health in the face of adverse experiences related to stigma against SGM. SGM authenticity has been found to buffer the effects of externalized stigma on quality of life in sexual minoritized adults (Fredrick et al, 2020). Woulfe and Goodman (2020) found that identity affirmation moderated the association between SGM identity abuse (e.g., someone threatening to out you) and depression, such that identity affirmation was protective against the depressive effects of identity abuse for SGM adults.…”

Section: Minoritized Stress and Mental Healthmentioning

confidence: 99%

Intersectional stigma and mental health: Interactions with identity authenticity and SGM community in sexual and gender minoritized young adults of color.

Swann¹,

Crosby²,

Newcomb³

et al. 2024

Cultural Diversity & Ethnic Minority Psychology

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Objectives: Sexual and gender minoritized people (SGM) of color experience stigma unique to their intersection of identities, such as racism from SGM and heterosexism from people of color (POC) in their same racial/ethnic group. SGM POC who experience enacted stigma, like microaggressions, have been found to have poorer mental health outcomes. SGM identity authenticity and connections to the SGM community have been associated with better mental health. We sought to test if intersectional enacted stigma, identity authenticity, community connectedness, and the interactions between enacted stigma and authenticity and community were associated with mental health in assigned female at birth (AFAB) SGM young adults of color. Method: Data come from 341 racial/ethnic minoritized SGM-AFAB (Mage = 21.23, SD = 3.80). Multivariate linear regressions tested main effects of intersectional enacted stigma (heterosexism from POC and racism from SGM) and authenticity and community on mental health, as well as interaction effects on mental health. Results: SGM-AFAB POC who experienced more heterosexism from POC reported more anxiety and depression symptoms. Greater connection to the SGM community was associated with fewer anxiety and depression symptoms. Heterosexism from POC and community connection interacted such that SGM-AFAB who experienced less heterosexism from POC reported fewer mental health symptoms if they were more connected to the SGM community, but SGM-AFAB who experienced more heterosexism did not benefit from stronger community connection. Conclusions: Heterosexism from other POC may put SGM POC at higher exposure for negative mental health outcomes and reduce the mental health benefits of a stronger connection to the SGM community.

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Sexual minority quality of life: The indirect effect of public stigma through self-compassion, authenticity, and internalized stigma.

Cited by 18 publications

References 14 publications

Self-compassion, minority stress, and mental health in sexual and gender minority populations: A meta-analysis and systematic review.

Self-compassion, minority stress, and mental health in sexual and gender minority populations: A meta-analysis and systematic review.

Shame-Based Experiences of Homophobic Bullying and Mental Health: The Mediating Role of Self-Compassionate Actions

Intersectional stigma and mental health: Interactions with identity authenticity and SGM community in sexual and gender minoritized young adults of color.

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