Correlates of Well-Being Following Anti-LGBT Trauma or Discrimination

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals continue to experience anti-LGBT trauma and discrimination. However, relatively little is known about the well-being of these individuals despite experiencing anti-LGBT events. Using multiple regression and mediation analyses, this study assessed the correlates and mediators of the following positive psychology character strengths, including coping styles, authenticity of LGBT identity, level of belonging to the LGBT community, perceived levels of available emotional social support, the degree of centrality of an anti-LGBT event to identity, and disclosure and concealment of sexual orientation or gender identity to determine levels of overall well-being. This study also measured the severity of the anti-LGBT event and overall distress. Participants, recruited online, included 168 LGBT-identified individuals who reported having experienced anti-LGBT trauma or discrimination based on their sexual orientation and/or gender identity. Problem-focused coping and emotional support were positive correlates of well-being. Avoidant coping, distress, and centrality were negative correlates of well-being. Further, higher levels of problem-focused coping, lower levels of overall distress, and higher levels of perceived availability of emotional support were all found to be significant partial mediators of the relationship between the centrality of the anti-LGBT event to identity and overall well-being. These findings suggest that by helping individuals (1) gain a greater sense of control over their lives, (2) reconceptualise the anti-LGBT event as less central to their narrative, and (3) create meaning, that mental health providers may help to increase overall well-being of LGBT individuals following anti-LGBT events.Ph.D