The relationship between ruminating about one’s sexual orientation or gender identity and negative mental health symptoms is influenced by how connected LGBTQ individuals feel to the LGBTQ community, according to new research published in Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity.
Those who felt disconnected from the LGBTQ community during Donald Trump’s presidency were more likely to experience negative mental health outcomes compared to those who had an average level of connection to the community. In an unexpected finding, those who felt very close to the LGBTQ community were also more likely to experience negative mental health outcomes compared to those with average level of connectedness.
The researchers were motivated to study the topic of community connection among LGBTQ individuals due to the recognition that such connections might play a crucial role in their psychological well-being. Previous scholarship had indicated that being connected to a minority community, such as the LGBTQ community, can protect against anxiety and depressive symptoms and lead to positive mental health outcomes like increased self-esteem and resilience.
The study aimed to investigate the effects of community connection, particularly during political and social events that marginalized LGBTQ individuals. The Trump administration was specifically chosen as a focal point because it was known for proposing state and federal legislation that aimed to restrict the rights of sexual and gender minority individuals.
The researchers recognized the significance of studying the Trump administration in the context of LGBTQ mental health because it represented a stark contrast to the previous Obama administration. During the Obama administration, significant advancements were made in LGBTQ rights and protections. The abrupt shift in political climate from progress to potential regression could have profound effects on the mental health of LGBTQ individuals.
To conduct their study, the researchers recruited a sample of 250 sexual or gender minority adults living in the United States. The participants were primarily White and ranged in age from 18 to 61 years. The researchers utilized online recruitment methods, posting announcements on social media sites and online message boards that catered to LGBTQ individuals. Participants were asked to complete a survey that assessed various aspects of their mental health and community connection.
To measure community connection, the researchers utilized scales that assessed individuals’ experiences of connection to the LGBTQ community and the impact of anti-LGBTQ climates on their mental health. They also employed scales to measure rumination specifically related to sexual or gender minority identity (e.g. “I think about everything I do not have because of my sexual orientation”). The data collection occurred from March to June 2018 as part of a larger study on LGBTQ individuals’ experiences during the Trump administration.
The researchers found that the relationship between rumination about sexual orientation or gender identity and negative mental health symptoms was influenced by community connection, but in a more complex way than previously thought.
Contrary to the idea that more community connection is always better for mental health, the study found that for participants who felt highly connected to the LGBTQ community, the relationship between rumination and negative mental health symptoms was stronger. This means that being connected to the community didn’t necessarily protect against negative mental health outcomes.
“The findings from the present study have important implications for counselors and clinicians. The results presented here suggest that some clients who feel as though they are separated or isolated from the LGBTQ community may experience more severe negative mental health outcomes than those who experience about average closeness to the community,” the researchers wrote.
“That is, for those individuals who scored within one standard deviation of the mean in terms of community connectedness, connection to community functioned as previous studies said it should – the closer an individual felt to the community, the less negative mental health outcomes they would receive. Conversely, though, some individuals may experience an increase in rumination when they feel as though they are very close to the LGBTQ community. This could be accounted for due to co-rumination within the LGBTQ community.”
Interestingly, community connection did not moderate the relationship between gender identity rumination and mental health among transgender individuals. In other words, for transgender participants, their feelings of connection to the LGBTQ community did not significantly affect the impact of rumination on their mental health.
These findings indicate that factors other than community connection may be more influential in shaping the mental health experiences of transgender individuals. However, it’s important to note that the study had a smaller sample size of transgender participants, which could limit the generalizability of these findings.
The researchers also noted that the participants in this study may have been influenced by negative experiences related to anti-LGBTQ events during the Trump’s presidency. Future research should explore how community connection functions in different political contexts and consider the impact of prolonged anti-LGBTQ administrations or more supportive administrations.
The study, “LGBTQ rumination, anxiety, depression, and community connection during Trump’s presidency“, was authored by Lex Pulice-Farrow, Kirsten A Gonzalez, and G. Tyler Lefevor.