Minority Stress Theory: The Mental Health Of Those With Marginalized Identities
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Minority stress theory outlines the unique ways in which individuals of marginalized groups may be affected by their daily lived experiences of discrimination and exclusion. Minority stress can affect a person as a result of their racial or ethnic identity, their LGBTQ+ identity, or others. Here, we’ll focus primarily on sexual and gender minority stress in the LGBTQ+ community—while emphasizing how this identity can intersect with other marginalized identities—and how social exclusion and mistreatment can affect mental health and overall well-being.
The minority stress model
The minority stress model was developed by Ilan Meyer, Professor Emeritus of Sociomedical Sciences at Columbia University. Meyer’s minority stress model shows how stigma and prejudice can affect individuals of marginalized identities like LGBTQ+ people in numerous ways. The minority stress model describes the physical and mental health disparities experienced by these individuals—due to lived experiences of discrimination and exclusion and often compounded by barriers to receiving affirming, affordable sexual and gender minority health care.
Groups affected by minority stress
Minority stress comes from the lived experiences that a person with a marginalized identity may have. Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) and members of the LGBTQ+ community are two commonly cited examples, but minority stressors may affect those of other identities as well.
Also note that a person who holds multiple marginalized identities, such as a queer person of color, will often be at risk of additional and compounding stressors at the intersection of these identities.
Minority stress theory on distal and proximal stressors
Research on minority stress explores the role of distal and proximal stressors. Distal stressors refer to those that stem from institutions or people, whereas proximal stressors are often related to self-rejection as a result of past social experiences. For example, distal stressors may include discrimination-related job loss, microaggressions, and chronic stress from poverty. Proximal stressors involve affected individuals expecting discrimination or exclusion and potentially attempting to conceal their identity to prevent more from happening to them. While concealment may serve a protective purpose in some contexts, it can also add stress.
Sexual minorities and mental health needs
Consider some mental health statistics about how minority stress can affect individuals in the LGBTQ+ community:
- Individuals from the LGBTQ+ community are more than twice as likely to experience a mental illness at some point in life due to their lived experiences of discrimination, with transgender, non-binary, and other gender non-conforming individuals at even higher risk.
- The suicide rate of gay, lesbian, and bisexual youth is four times higher than that of heterosexual youth due to their lived experiences of discrimination, with transgender, non-binary, and other gender non-conforming youth at even higher risk.
- Around 28% of BIPOC individuals who are also members of the queer community are uninsured and therefore may not be able to receive physical and mental healthcare when they need it, compared to only 8% of the overall population.
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Mental health support for sexual minorities
Lived experiences of minority stress can have a significant impact on mental health. While experts suggest that large-scale advocacy will likely be needed to improve conditions for all marginalized people, there are steps individuals in these groups can take to protect their mental health.
One way that individuals might mitigate the effects of minority stress is to expand their support system. The following are some ways that LGBTQ+ people in particular may find mental health support:
- Support groups. Many local LGBTQ+ organizations offer support groups. Some may focus on specific communities, such as sexual minority women or BIPOC LGBTQ+ communities. Having a dedicated space to share joys, challenges, and resources with people who have similar identities may help a person feel seen and supported.
- Faith-based organizations that are open and affirming. Some churches, temples, or mosques announce that they are open and affirming toward all LGBTQ+ individuals. These organizations can be a valuable way for religious individuals to find a sense of community and express their faith.
- Online forums and groups. Some people may live in areas with few in-person support options. In these cases, online groups and forums can serve as a way for people to connect with LGBTQ+ individuals from all over the country, if not all around the world.
Therapists for minority groups
While the above resources can serve as valuable sources of support, LGBTQ+ individuals living with the effects of minority stress may also benefit from seeking individual therapy. Many therapists specifically specialize in serving the LGBTQ+ community, with some belonging to this community themselves.
An LGBTQ+ therapist can help clients at all stages of their personal development, from those who are questioning their identity or contemplating coming out to those who have openly been part of the LGBTQ+ community for years or decades. An LGBTQ+ therapist or otherwise culturally competent provider typically understands various sources of minority stress, from stigma experienced in the workplace to social exclusion and more, and can provide informed and affirming support for those experiencing them.
Online therapy options for sexual minorities
Depending on their location, some Individuals from the LGBTQ+ communities may experience difficulty finding culturally sensitive mental health support near them. Some people may have to travel far to find a therapist who works with the LGBTQ+ community. In such cases, online therapy can be a more viable source of care. With online therapy, individuals can connect to a much larger pool of qualified mental health professionals. For example, BetterHelp has a network of more than 25,000 licensed therapists, which can make it easier to find the right provider for you. Individuals can speak with a therapist from home or anywhere they have an internet connection.
In addition to participating in therapy sessions via audio, video, or live chat, BetterHelp clients can reach out to their therapist at any time through in-app messaging, and their therapist will respond as soon as they can. This feature may be helpful on days or nights when LGBTQ+ individuals experience high stress, whether related to trauma, discrimination, or other challenges.
In addition to offering multiple communication methods, research suggests that online therapy can be effective. In one systematic review and meta-analysis, for example, researchers suggest that online cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can be even more effective than in-person CBT in some cases for treating symptoms of depression.
Takeaway
Who developed the minority stress model (minority stress theory)?
The minority stress model was developed by Ilan Meyer, a Williams Distinguished Senior Scholar of Public Policy at the Williams Institute, a think tank at UCLA. His work has influenced other researchers carrying out population studies on health disparities among sexual and gender minority individuals. At the heart of minority stress theory lies the effects of lived experiences of discrimination on individuals with marginalized identities.
What are some of the stressors faced by LGBTQ+ individuals?
Individuals from the LGBTQ+ community may face stigma related to sexual and gender identity. This can take the form of microaggressions, social exclusion, harassment, violence, overt discrimination in work settings, social settings, housing, etc., and more, and it can intersect and compound with other barriers a person may face due to holding additional marginalized identities.
What are some common mental health challenges among sexual and gender minorities?
Sexual and gender minorities often have more negative health outcomes compared to the population overall, including both physical and mental health outcomes. Due to their lived experiences of discrimination, people from the LGBTQ+ community tend to have a higher lifetime prevalence of mental disorders, such as anxiety and depression.
What are some strategies for sexual minorities to protect their mental health?
Sexual minority populations might consider implementing various self-care practices to mitigate mental health complications that may arise from their lived experiences of discrimination. For example, individuals may benefit from building a support system, practicing mindfulness meditation, establishing an exercise routine, and speaking with a licensed mental health professional. These practices may also help with physical health outcomes, which are often related to mental health.
How can a person from a sexual or gender minority group find an LGBTQ+ counselor?
Many LGBTQ+ counselor advertise that they specialize in serving this community in their online profiles. For those who live in an area with few LGBTQ+ therapists, online therapy platforms like BetterHelp typically have providers who are trained to address the unique challenges this population often faces.
What was the minority stress theory originally focused mostly on?
The minority stress framework was originally focused mostly on sexual minority individuals, including gay and bisexual men, lesbian women, and others in the LGBTQ+ community. Since then, it’s also been applied to multiple minority identities in various marginalized groups. In general, any minority group members—including those with a marginalized racial or ethnic identity, those who are disabled, and others—may experience an excess stress burden and mental health symptoms due to lived experiences of discrimination and exclusion.
How does minority stress affect health?
Typically, minority stressors constitute elements of the lived experiences of those of marginalized groups today, including microaggressions, discrimination, and social exclusion. All of these types of experiences can impact mental health by causing increased levels of general stress. Minority stress can create adverse health outcomes for any minority group members, including sexual minority persons (particularly sexual minority youth), those with a marginalized racial identity, and others.
Does minority stress only affect racial or ethnic minorities?
According to minority stress literature and research evidence, minority stress can also affect people with a sexual minority identity (such as sexual minority men) or gender minority identity (such as transgender and non-binary people). Despite the fact that gender diversity is widely considered a natural part of human diversity, those with sexual minority status, racial minority status, or another marginalized identity may experience discrimination and other forms of stress.
What is the minority stress theory of disability?
The minority stress theory was originally applied to sexual minority individuals, but it can generally also be applied to anyone with a marginalized identity. The minority stress theory of disability refers to how individuals who live with a disability may be at risk for higher stress levels due to lived experiences of discrimination, exclusion, and other barriers. Keep in mind that it's also possible for a person to experience multiple minority stress based on multiple marginalized identities. For example, a person of color who is also disabled may experience minority stress stemming from discrimination based on both of these identities.
What is the minority stress model in therapy?
Minority stress can affect how gender minority people learn, relate to each other, and cope with the stress of acute major life events. This can affect the therapy process because it can impact the way a person responds to their lived experiences. A therapist who is working with a client who lives with minority stress might focus on ways they can help their client cope with difficult experiences, such as by cultivating a strong sense of social support.
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