Bisexual identity denial and health: Exploring the role of societal meta-perceptions and belonging threats among bisexual adults

Bisexual individuals frequently experience identity denial from others due to perceptions that bisexuality is an illegitimate identity. Bisexual individuals have worse psychological health than gay, lesbian, and heterosexual people, but the reasons for these disparities are not well understood. Across a two-sample correlational study (Total N = 445) utilizing path analyses, we tested belonging uncertainty, bisexual meta-stereotypes, and meta-legitimacy perceptions as mediators of the relationship between identity denial and depressive symptoms. More frequent identity denial was related to greater belonging uncertainty, greater bisexual meta-stereotypes, lower meta-legitimacy, and greater reported depressive symptoms, with belonging uncertainty mediating the relationship between identity denial and depressive symptoms. These findings suggest that identity denial is related to the social and psychological health of bisexual individuals.

Automated summary

Bisexual individuals often face identity denial due to perceptions that bisexuality is illegitimate, leading to worse psychological health compared to gay, lesbian, and heterosexual individuals. Research suggests that identity denial is associated with increased belonging uncertainty, negative bisexual stereotypes, and lower legitimacy perception, ultimately contributing to higher levels of depressive symptoms among bisexual individuals.