The Effects of Sociocultural Factors on Social Connectedness and its Relationship with Minority Stress in LGBTQ Young Adults

Members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (LGBTQ) community have historically been ostracized from various social groups, and this victimization has been associated with multiple functional impairments (Lick, Durso & Johnson, 2013). The minority stress model suggests that a higher frequency of mental disorders exists in the LGBTQ community due to alienation and isolation from social structure and institutions. It predicts the isolation is instigated by the individual’s identification as a minority. Lick, Durso and Johnson (2013) proposed minority stress contributed to disparities in the health of sexual minorities. These disparities were categorized into three sociocultural stress categories: institutional stressors, structural stressors, and interpersonal stressors. Social support has been identified as an important tool to reduce stress, and an important factor which can encourage social and psychological well-being. Social support and social connectedness are related in the sense that they embrace the development of social relationships. People with low connectedness have reported higher levels of loneliness, anxiety, depression, and lower self-esteem (Baumeister & Leary, 1995), which are similar to the ailments reported by those who suffer from minority stress. Our research hypothesis is that sociocultural factors such as institutional policies, structural opportunities, and interpersonal relationships influence the development in social connectedness, which may mitigate the negative outcomes that originate from minority stress. The lack of affirming and supportive environmental factors is hypothesized to correlate to a decreased sense of social connectedness. In turn, the lack of social connectedness likely renders LGBTQ individuals vulnerable to minority stress. Survey data will be used to gather information about social connectedness in LGBTQ adults. Utilizing the services provided by Qualtrics Panels, LGBTQ adults between the ages of 18-24 will be surveyed. Correlational analysis will be used to determine the relationship between the sociocultural levels discussed, social connectedness, and minority stress