Robin J. Lewis, Valerian J. Derlega, Jessica L. Griffin, Alison C. Krowinski, (2003). Stressors for Gay Men and Lesbians: Life Stress, Gay-Related Stress, Stigma Consciousness, and Depressive Symptoms. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology: Vol. 22, No. 6, pp. 716-729.
doi: 10.1521/jscp.22.6.716.22932

Stressors for Gay Men and Lesbians: Life Stress, Gay-Related Stress, Stigma Consciousness, and Depressive Symptoms

Robin J. Lewis1, Valerian J. Derlega2, Jessica L. Griffin3, Alison C. Krowinski4

1 Old Dominion University and the Virginia Consortium Program in Clinical Psychology

2 Old Dominion University

3 Virginia Consortium Program in Clinical Psychology

4 Virginia Consortium Program in Clinical Psychology



Abstract

Gay-related stress occurs when gay men and lesbians must deal with stressors that are unique to their sexual orientation. This research examined the relationship of gay-related stress and life events to depressive symptoms. Other potential predictors of depressive symptoms were also considered (internalized homophobia, stigma consciousness, and openness about sexual orientation). A sample of 204 (110 men, and 91 women, three sex-unspecified) gay/lesbian/bisexual individuals completed a packet of self-report measures. The importance of the construct of gay-related stress was demonstrated by explaining independent variance in depressive symptoms compared to variance explained by life stress. Those who reported more severe life stress and more severe gay-related stress also reported more depressive symptoms. Also, gay-related stress and stigma consciousness were independent predictors of depressive symptoms. Those with more severe gay-related stress and more stigma consciousness reported more depressive symptoms. Our results suggest that the constuct of gay-related stress is important to understanding the experiences of gay/lesbian/bisexual individuals.

Cited by

Robin J. Lewis, Robert J. Milletich, Michelle L. Kelley, Alex Woody. (2012) Minority stress, substance use, and intimate partner violence among sexual minority women. Aggression and Violent Behavior 17:3, 247-256
Online publication date: 1-May-2012.
CrossRef
Beena Thomas, Matthew J. Mimiaga, Kenneth H. Mayer, Nicholas S. Perry, Soumya Swaminathan, Steven A. Safren. (2012) The influence of stigma on HIV risk behavior among men who have sex with men in Chennai, India. AIDS Care1-6
Online publication date: 23-Apr-2012.
CrossRef
Élodie Charbonnier, Pierluigi Graziani. (2012) Les stratégies de coping que les jeunes homosexuels mettent en place lors de la divulgation de leur homosexualité. Journal de Thérapie Comportementale et Cognitive 22:1, 24-31
Online publication date: 1-Mar-2012.
CrossRef
Emily F. Rothman, Mairead Sullivan, Susan Keyes, Ulrike Boehmer. (2012) Parents' Supportive Reactions to Sexual Orientation Disclosure Associated With Better Health: Results From a Population-Based Survey of LGB Adults in Massachusetts. Journal of Homosexuality 59:2, 186-200
Online publication date: 1-Feb-2012.
CrossRef
David Matthew Doyle, Lisa Molix. (2012) Perceived discrimination and well-being in gay men: the protective role of behavioural identification. Psychology and Sexuality1-14
Online publication date: 23-Jan-2012.
CrossRef
Robin J. Lewis, Tatyana Kholodkov, Valerian J. Derlega. (2012) Still Stressful After All These Years: A Review of Lesbians’ and Bisexual Women's Minority Stress. Journal of Lesbian Studies 16:1, 30-44
Online publication date: 1-Jan-2012.
CrossRef
Lake Dziengel. (2011) Resilience, Ambiguous Loss, and Older Same-Sex Couples: The Resilience Constellation Model. Journal of Social Service Research 38:1, 74-88
Online publication date: 8-Dec-2011.
CrossRef
Tonda Hughes. (2011) Alcohol Use and Alcohol-Related Problems Among Sexual Minority Women. Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly 29:4, 403-435
Online publication date: 30-Sep-2011.
CrossRef
Amana F. Carvalho, Robin J. Lewis, Valerian J. Derlega, Barbara A. Winstead, Claudia Viggiano. (2011) Internalized Sexual Minority Stressors and Same-Sex Intimate Partner Violence. Journal of Family Violence
Online publication date: 9-Jun-2011.
CrossRef
CASEY J. TOTENHAGEN, EMILY A. BUTLER, CARL A. RIDLEY. (2011) Daily stress, closeness, and satisfaction in gay and lesbian couples. Personal Relationshipsno-no
Online publication date: 1-Mar-2011.
CrossRef
Keith Klostermann, Michelle L. Kelley, Robert J. Milletich, Theresa Mignone. (2011) Alcoholism and partner aggression among gay and lesbian couples. Aggression and Violent Behavior 16:2, 115-119
Online publication date: 1-Mar-2011.
CrossRef
Nathan Shippee. (2011) Gay, Straight, and Who I Am: Interpreting Passing Within the Frames for Everyday Life. Deviant Behavior 32:2, 115-157
Online publication date: 1-Feb-2011.
CrossRef
Christi McGeorge, Thomas Stone Carlson. (2011) Deconstructing Heterosexism: Becoming an LGB Affirmative Heterosexual Couple and Family Therapist. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy 37:1, 14-26
Online publication date: 1-Jan-2011.
CrossRef
Claire McCallum, Suzanne McLaren. (2011) Sense of Belonging and Depressive Symptoms Among GLB Adolescents. Journal of Homosexuality 58:1, 83-96
Online publication date: 1-Jan-2011.
CrossRef
Michael E. Newcomb, Brian Mustanski. (2010) Internalized homophobia and internalizing mental health problems: A meta-analytic review. Clinical Psychology Review 30:8, 1019-1029
Online publication date: 1-Dec-2010.
CrossRef
Joshua Wolff, Heather Himes. (2010) Purposeful Exclusion of Sexual Minority Youth in Christian Higher Education: The Implications of Discrimination. Christian Higher Education 9:5, 439-460
Online publication date: 1-Nov-2010.
CrossRef
Nele Cox, Wim Vanden Berghe, Alexis Dewaele, John Vincke. (2010) Acculturation Strategies and Mental Health in Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Youth. Journal of Youth and Adolescence 39:10, 1199-1210
Online publication date: 1-Oct-2010.
CrossRef
Nathan Daniel Doty, Brian L. B. Willoughby, Kristin M. Lindahl, Neena M. Malik. (2010) Sexuality Related Social Support Among Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Youth. Journal of Youth and Adolescence 39:10, 1134-1147
Online publication date: 1-Oct-2010.
CrossRef
Brian Willoughby, Nathan Doty, Neena Malik. (2010) Victimization, Family Rejection, and Outcomes of Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Young People: The Role of Negative GLB Identity. Journal of GLBT Family Studies 6:4, 403-424
Online publication date: 1-Oct-2010.
CrossRef
S. E. McCabe, W. B. Bostwick, T. L. Hughes, B. T. West, C. J. Boyd. (2010) The Relationship Between Discrimination and Substance Use Disorders Among Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Adults in the United States. American Journal of Public Health 100:10, 1946-1952
Online publication date: 1-Oct-2010.
CrossRef
James I. Martin, Edward J. Alessi. (2010) Stressful Events, Avoidance Coping, and Unprotected Anal Sex Among Gay and Bisexual Men. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry 80:3, 293-301
Online publication date: 1-Jul-2010.
CrossRef
Susan J Roberts, Eileen M Stuart-Shor, Rachel A Oppenheimer. (2010) Lesbians’ attitudes and beliefs regarding overweight and weight reduction. Journal of Clinical Nursing 19:13-14, 1986-1994
Online publication date: 1-Jul-2010.
CrossRef
Carolyn F. Wong, Michele D. Kipke, George Weiss, Bryce McDavitt. (2010) The impact of recent stressful experiences on HIV-risk related behaviors. Journal of Adolescence 33:3, 463-475
Online publication date: 1-Jun-2010.
CrossRef
Naomi B. Knoble, Deanna Linville. (2010) Outness and Relationship Satisfaction in Same-Gender Couples. Journal of Marital and Family Therapyno-no
Online publication date: 1-Apr-2010.
CrossRef
Xiu-Yun LIN, Xiao-Yi FANG, Yang LIU, Jing LAN. (2009) The Effect Mechanism of Stigma Perception on Mental Health Among Migrant Children in Beijing. Acta Psychologica Sinica 41:10, 967-979
Online publication date: 10-Dec-2009.
CrossRef
Aaron J. Blashill, Kimberly K. Powlishta. (2009) Gay Stereotypes: The Use of Sexual Orientation as a Cue for Gender-Related Attributes. Sex Roles 61:11-12, 783-793
Online publication date: 1-Dec-2009.
CrossRef
Cathy Kelleher. (2009) Minority stress and health: Implications for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) young people. Counselling Psychology Quarterly 22:4, 373-379
Online publication date: 1-Dec-2009.
CrossRef
Robin J. Lewis, Valerian J. Derlega, Debra Brown, Suzanna Rose, James M. Henson. (2009) Sexual Minority Stress, Depressive Symptoms, and Sexual Orientation Conflict: Focus on the Experiences of Bisexuals. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology 28:8, 971-992
Online publication date: 1-Oct-2009.
Abstract | PDF (429 KB) | PDF with links (442 KB) 
Jillian DePaul, Mary E. Walsh, Uma C. Dam. (2009) The Role of School Counselors in Addressing Sexual Orientation in Schools. Professional School Counseling 12:4, 300-308
Online publication date: 1-Apr-2009.
CrossRef
Connie R. Matthews, Eve M. Adams. (2009) Using a Social Justice Approach to Prevent the Mental Health Consequences of Heterosexism. The Journal of Primary Prevention 30:1, 11-26
Online publication date: 1-Jan-2009.
CrossRef
Abby Braitman, Robin Lewis, Valerian Derlega, Stacie Wilson. (2008) Minority Stressors and Dual Identities: An Analysis of Lesbians' Expressive Writing Journals. Journal of Lesbian Studies 12:4, 501-517
Online publication date: 21-Oct-2008.
CrossRef
Nathalie Lovasz, Juanne Clarke. (2008) Life Beyond Depression: The Experience of Gays and Lesbians Who Self-Identify as Depressed. Journal of LGBT Health Research 3:4, 53-73
Online publication date: 15-Aug-2008.
CrossRef
I MEYER, S SCHWARTZ, D FROST. (2008) Social patterning of stress and coping: Does disadvantaged social statuses confer more stress and fewer coping resources?. Social Science & Medicine 67:3, 368-379
Online publication date: 1-Aug-2008.
CrossRef
Nele Cox, Wim Vanden Berghe, Alexis Dewaele, John Vinke. (2008) General and Minority Stress in an LGB Population in Flanders. Journal of LGBT Health Research 4:4, 181-194
Online publication date: 1-Jan-2008.
CrossRef
Gregory M. Herek. (2007) Confronting Sexual Stigma and Prejudice: Theory and Practice. Journal of Social Issues 63:4, 905-925
Online publication date: 1-Dec-2007.
CrossRef
Yoshitaka Iwasaki, Janice L. Ristock. (2007) The nature of stress experienced by lesbians and gay men. Anxiety, Stress & Coping 20:3, 299-319
Online publication date: 1-Sep-2007.
CrossRef
Carlos I. Pérez-Benítez, William H. O'Brien, Robert A. Carels, Anne K. Gordon, Christine E. Chiros. (2007) Cardiovascular correlates of disclosing homosexual orientation. Stress and Health 23:3, 141-152
Online publication date: 1-Aug-2007.
CrossRef
Anneliese Singh, Brian Dew, Danica Hays, Andra Gailis. (2007) Relationships Among Internalized Homophobia, Sexual Identity Development, and Coping Resources of Lesbian and Bisexual Women. Journal of LGBT Issues in Counseling 1:3, 15-31
Online publication date: 20-Jun-2007.
CrossRef
Debra L. Oswald. (2007) "Don't Ask, Don't Tell": The Influence of Stigma Concealing and Perceived Threat on Perceivers' Reactions to a Gay Target. Journal of Applied Social Psychology 37:5, 928-947
Online publication date: 1-May-2007.
CrossRef
Tülin Gençöz, Murat Yüksel. (2006) Psychometric Properties of the Turkish Version of the Internalized Homophobia Scale. Archives of Sexual Behavior 35:5, 597-602
Online publication date: 23-Oct-2006.
CrossRef
Robin J. Lewis, Valerian J. Derlega, Eva G. Clarke, Jenny C. Kuang. (2006) Stigma Consciousness, Social Constraints, and Lesbian Well-Being.. Journal of Counseling Psychology 53:1, 48-56
Online publication date: 1-Jan-2006.
CrossRef
Robin J. Lewis, Valerian J. Derlega, Eva G. Clarke, Jenny C. Kuang, Andrew M. Jacobs, Michelle D. McElligott. (2005) AN EXPRESSIVE WRITING INTERVENTION TO COPE WITH LESBIAN-RELATED STRESS: THE MODERATING EFFECTS OF OPENNESS ABOUT SEXUAL ORIENTATION. Psychology of Women Quarterly 29:2, 149-157
Online publication date: 1-Jun-2005.
CrossRef
Brenda Major, Laurie T. O'Brien. (2005) The Social Psychology of Stigma. Annual Review of Psychology 56:1, 393-421
Online publication date: 1-Feb-2005.
CrossRef