Multiple minority stress: the role of proximal and distal stress on mental health outcomes among lesbian, gay and bisexual people of color

Abstract

There is minimal research addressing the mental health outcomes of lesbian, gay, and bisexual people of color (LGB-POC). Meyer's (2003; 2015) minority stress theory posits that the manifestation of depression and anxiety symptomology is due to the excess distal and proximal stress that minority groups face because of their societal marginalization. The purpose of this study was to determine the predictive value of distal stress measures (e.g. LGBT-POC microaggressions and daily heterosexist/racist experiences) and proximal identity concepts (e.g., self-stigma, identity salience, and sexual orientation rumination) for self-reported depression/anxiety symptoms among LGB-POC. Data were collected via an online survey involving a sample of 88 LGB-POC. Plurisexual participants reported higher rates of negative mental health outcomes in comparison to monosexual participants. Regression analyses suggested that proximal stressors accounted for 15% more of variance in reported mental health outcomes than distal stress factors, alone. Distal and proximal minority stressors, together, accounted for 33% of the variance in participants’ responses of mental health symptoms. Implications regarding mental health outcomes for LGB-POC are discussed.