title: How a romantic relationship can protect same-sex attracted youth and young adults from the impact of expected rejection.
abstract: Same-sex attracted youth's well-being is jeopardized by components of minority stress, but this stress can be buffered by social support. What is unknown is whether a romantic relationship can also serve as a buffer. With an online survey we examined the link between components of minority stress, psychological well-being, and its moderated relation by romantic relationship status among 309 Dutch same-sex attracted youth (16-24 years old, 52.9% female). The results showed that minority stress components (internalized homophobia, expected rejection, and meta-stereotyping) were negatively related to psychological well-being. Moderation analyses revealed that only the impact of "expected rejection" on psychological well-being was buffered for those involved in a romantic relationship. This shows the particular functional link of romantic support in rejection contexts.
authors.affiliation: Developmental Psychology, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 1, 3584 CS Utrecht, The Netherlands. Electronic address: l.baams@uu.nl.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Baams
authors.affiliation: Child Development and Education, University of Amsterdam, Nieuwe Prinsengracht 130, 1018 VZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Henny M W
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Bos
authors.affiliation: Social Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Weesperplein 4, 1018 XA Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Kai J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Jonas
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D005260:Female; D049690:History, Ancient; D006716:Homosexuality / Q000523:psychology*; D018452:Homosexuality, Female / Q000523:psychology; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008149:Love; D008297:Male; D008913:Minority Groups / Q000523:psychology; D012929:Psychological Distance; D012944:Social Support; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Adolescents and young adults; LGB; Minority stress; Romantic relationship; Same-sex attracted