Resilience Factors and Mental Health among LGBTQ Adults in Canada and the United States

There is compelling evidence suggesting that LGBTQ individuals face markedly higher rates of mood and anxiety disorder, as well as lifetime suicidality compared to heterosexual individuals. While most of the research on the psychological health of LGBTQ individuals has taken a deficit-based approach, more recent research has begun to explore the importance of resiliency in this population. Drawing on resilience theories, this study examined individual and community resources and stressors that contribute to the resiliency of LGBTQ individuals living in Canada and the United States and the degree to which these factors played a role in mitigating the adverse effects of mental health problems in LGBTQ individuals. Using multiple regression and mediation analysis, this study determined the predictability and mediation of model variables: internalized homophobia, coping skills (emotion-focused, problem-focused, and avoidant-focused), levels of optimism, attachment dimensions (anxious and avoidance), level of perceived social support, level of LGBTQ community connectedness, homonegative microaggressions, family acceptance, and overall psychological distress (depression, anxiety, and stress) on resilience. A total of 322 self-identified LGBTQ individuals were recruited through a variety of online venues. Results found optimism to be positive predictor of resilience and anxiety, depression, as well as anxious attachment dimension to be negative predictors of resilience. Further, higher levels of optimism, and lower levels of anxious and avoidance attachment related dimensions were all found to be significant partial mediators of the relationship between psychological distress and resilience. The results shed lights on ways mental health care professionals can promote resilience and mitigate the adverse effects of mental health in LGBTQ individuals.Ph.D