Abstract
Objective: The prevalence of anxiety and depressive (i.e., internalizing) disorders is higher among bi+ individuals (i.e., individuals with attractions to more than one gender and/or who identify as bisexual or pansexual) compared to both heterosexual and lesbian/gay individuals. Cross-sectional research has demonstrated that stressors unique to bi+ individuals are associated with internalizing symptoms. However, longitudinal research examining these associations and underlying mechanisms is extremely limited. Method: We utilized five waves of data (6 months between waves) from a diverse sample of bi+ individuals assigned female at birth (age 16–32; 29% gender minority; 72.9% racial/ethnic minority) to examine: (a) prospective associations between three bi+ stressors (enacted, internalized, anticipated bi+ stigma) and internalizing symptoms; (b) potential mediating role of rumination in these associations; and (c) potential mediating roles of internalized and anticipated bi+ stigma in associations between enacted bi+ stigma and internalizing symptoms. Results: At the within-person level, when participants experienced more bi+ stressors than usual during a particular wave, they experienced subsequent increases in internalizing symptoms. Increases in rumination mediated these associations. Associations between enacted bi+ stigma and internalizing symptoms were mediated by increases in internalized and anticipated bi+ stigma. Conclusions: Findings indicate that bi+ stressors prospectively predict increases in internalizing symptoms and rumination may play a mechanistic role. Further, findings suggest that internalized and anticipated bi+ stigma may play mechanistic roles in the associations between enacted bi+ stigma and internalizing symptoms. Interventions targeting rumination, internalized stigma, and anticipated bi+ stigma may help to reduce internalizing symptoms among bi+ individuals.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 845-855 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology |
Volume | 89 |
Issue number | 10 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 2021 |
Funding
This work was supported by grants from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (R01HD086170, PI: Sarah W. Whitton), the National Institute on Drug Abuse (K01DA046716, PI: Christina Dyar; K08DA045575, PI: Brian A. Feinstein), and the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (F32AA028194, PI: Elissa L. Sarno). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the funding agencies
Keywords
- bisexual
- internalizing symptoms
- longitudinal
- mediation
- minority stress
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Clinical Psychology
- Psychiatry and Mental health