title: COPING AS A MEDIATOR OF INTERNALIZED HOMOPHOBIA AND PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS AMONG YOUNG ADULT SEXUAL MINORITY WOMEN.
abstract: Sexual minorities have higher rates of depression and anxiety than their heterosexual counterparts. This elevated risk of psychological distress has generally been hypothesized to be a result of the effects of discrimination including internalized negative beliefs about sexual minorities. However, little research has examined the role of various types of coping in mediating between internalized homophobia and mental health. We tested the direct relationship between internalized homophobia and psychological distress and evaluated general and sexual minority-specific coping strategies as potential mediators using structural equation modeling. Data are from a national sample of 1,099 young adult sexual minority women who were on average 20.86 (SD= 2.12) years old, participating in a study on mental health and substance use. The model demonstrated acceptable fit,χ2(83) = 402.9,p<.001,CFI=.94,TLI=.92,SRMR= .07, andRMSEA=.06, accounting for 73% of variance in psychological distress. Greater use of maladaptive coping and less use of sexual minority-specific coping were associated with higher psychological distress. Although maladaptive coping mediated the relationship between internalized homophobia and psychological distress, sexual minority-specific coping did not. Our findings support previous studies that have demonstrated the impact of internalized homophobia on psychological distress as well as the role of coping as a protective/risk factor in this relationship.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle 98195.
authors.forename: Debra
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kaysen
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle 98195.
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kulesza
authors.affiliation: School of Social Work, University of Washington, Seattle 98195.
authors.forename: Kimberly F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Balsam
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle 98195.
authors.forename: Isaac C
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Rhew
authors.affiliation: State University of New York - University at Buffalo, Buffalo 14260.
authors.forename: Jessica A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Blayney
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle 98195 ; Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC), VA Puget Sound Health Care System.
authors.forename: Keren
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lehavot
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, University of Illinois, Chicago 60612.
authors.forename: Tonda L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Hughes
keywords: anxiety; coping; depression; sexual minority women; young adults