Abstract

Lesbian, gay, and bisexual people of color (LGB PoC) continue to remain an understudied population. Research supports that LGB PoC may experience greater negative health consequences compared to LGB racial/ethnic majority populations. Social support, including family and peer support, is often associated with positive health outcomes for sexual minorities of all backgrounds. The present study sought to evaluate differences between types of social support, including what occurs when one is faced with significant loss of support (i.e., family support). Comparisons between groups sought to determine whether alternative systems of support (i.e., peer social support) buffers against the negative impact of lost family support (i.e., family victimization). LGB (n = 28) and LGB PoC (n = 45) participated in an online survey where victimization history, social support, self-esteem, internalized homonegativity and psychological health were assessed. Result indicated that LGB PoC experienced family victimization at similar rates as the LGB majority, though LGB PoC reported increasingly less familial support and significantly greater rates of internalized homonegativity. Moderated mediation analysis revealed that social support did not buffer against health consequences for either group, though differences between groups remained. Family victimization and self-esteem significantly predicted depressive and anxiety symptoms for LGB PoC, though these findings were mixed when assessed within the LGB majority sample.

Notes

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Graduation Date

2020

Semester

Summer

Advisor

Bowers, Clint

Degree

Master of Science (M.S.)

College

College of Sciences

Department

Psychology

Degree Program

Psychology Clinical

Format

application/pdf

Identifier

CFE0008228; DP0023582

URL

https://purls.library.ucf.edu/go/DP0023582

Language

English

Release Date

August 2020

Length of Campus-only Access

None

Access Status

Masters Thesis (Open Access)

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