Minority stress, resilience, and health in Italian and Taiwanese LGB plus people: A cross-cultural comparison

The present study, using a moderated mediational model, explored levels of distal/proximal stressors, rumination, resilience, and health in a group of Italian and Taiwanese LGB+ people. The study also examined the role of internalized sexual stigma (ISS) and rumination as mediators between discrimination and health, and resilience as a moderator of the relationship between discrimination and ISS, rumination, and health, respectively. An online survey was administered to 508 LGB+ participants (270 Italian and 238 Taiwanese) whose age ranged from 18 to 70 years (M = 37.93, SD = 13.53). The moderated mediation model was tested through a series of path analyses stratified by group nationality. Italian participants reported higher discrimination and resilience, but lower ISS, rumination, and health problems compared to their Taiwanese counterparts. The only common path between groups was the direct effect of discrimination on health problems. The mediating role of ISS and rumination in the relationship between discrimination and health, as well as the moderating role of resilience, were partly significant only for the Italian group. Conclusions: The findings suggest that mediators and moderators used to evaluate the effects of minority stress on health may differ between groups; further culturally sensitive research in the field of LGB+ health is needed.

Automated summary

This study examined the relationship between stress, rumination, resilience, and health in Italian and Taiwanese LGB+ individuals, utilizing a moderated mediational model. The study found that discrimination had a direct effect on health problems in both groups, but the mediating role of internalized sexual stigma (ISS) and rumination, as well as the moderating role of resilience, were only significant for the Italian group. Italian participants reported higher levels of discrimination and resilience, but lower levels of ISS, rumination, and health problems compared to their Taiwanese counterparts. These findings highlight the importance of culturally sensitive research in understanding the effects of minority stress on LGB+ health.