Social and Cultural Correlates of Identity Management Strategies Among Lesbian and Gay People: The Role of Intergroup Structure and Self-Construal

Abstract

Introduction: Lesbian and gay (LG) people often respond to stigmatization by managing their sexual identity. LG people may disassociate from their LGBTQ+ ingroup (i.e., individual strategies) or connect to it (i.e., collective strategies). Yet, many factors that may prompt LG people to use either strategy have been generally unexplored. We explored whether sociodemographic characteristics (i.e., age and gender), perceptions of the relationship between theLGBTQ+ ingroup and heterosexual outgroup, and self-construal are associated with identity management strategies among LG people. Methods: A sample of 204 LG people (Mage = 29.78) was collected online via Prolific Academic between 2020-2021. Results: Hierarchical linear regressions showed LG people who perceived the status of their LGTBQ+ ingroup concerning the heterosexual outgroup as legitimate in (im)permeable and (un)stable contexts reported engaging in more individual strategies. Those endorsing an independent self-construal were less likely to engage in individual strategies and conveyed more LGBTQ+ social support. In contrast, those with higher interdependent self-construal were more likely to engage in collective strategies. Gay men were more likely to dissociate from the LGTBQ+ ingroup, while lesbian women were more likely to seek its support. Older LG people reported lower engagement in collective strategies. Conclusion: These findings help paint a picture of how social and cultural variables factor in LG people managing their sexual identity as a possible response to stigma. Policy Implications: Results help inform policies and interventions addressing sexual identitystigma and health inequalities by emphasizing the nuances of individual-level factors among LG people.

LGBTQ+ Stigma and Health Effects: A Systematic Review of the Global Literature

“…For instance, lesbian and gay people who felt that their LGBTQ+ ingroup was legitimate, porous, and stable compared to heterosexual outgroups engaged in individual strategies. On the other hand, interdependent groups were more likely to engage in a collective strategy (Aybar Camposano, Rodrigues, & Moleiro, 2022), while gay men were more likely to dissociate from LGBTQ+ ingroups. Stigma and respectability also caused gender silencing, exclusion, and rejection (Nakhid et al, 2022).…”