Testing mediation effects of homosexual and bisexual's interpersonal factors and response styles on mental health

Abstract

This study examined the associations between sexual orientation, interpersonal factors, response styles, and mental health. A total of 1,330 graduate and undergraduate students-205 LGBs (lesbians, gays, and bisexuals) and 1,125 heterosexuals-completed a questionnaire on the topics of interpersonal stress, social support, two types of response styles (rumination and problem-solving), depression, and anxiety. The analysis of variance results indicated that LGB respondents reported more rumination and interpersonal stress and less social support than heterosexual respondents. Moreover, path and mediation analyses revealed that sexual orientation can increase depression and anxiety through interpersonal factors that promote rumination or inhibit problem-solving. These results suggest that LGB youth experience greater stress in interpersonal relationships, and this stress promotes maladaptive response styles that can exacerbate mental health.