Internalized Heterosexism and Psychological Distress: The Longitudinal Mediating Effect of LGBTQ+ Community Connectedness

This study examined the influences of internalized heterosexism (IH) and LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer) community connectedness on distress by testing two competing hypotheses: the connectedness as a form of coping hypothesis and the connectedness as an explanatory process hypothesis. These hypotheses were tested with a random intercept cross-lagged panel model using a three-wave archival longitudinal dataset with a nationally represented probability sample of 1,518 cisgender and nonbinary LGBQ+ individuals. Results supported the connectedness as a form of coping hypothesis, showing that the effect of IH on distress was mediated by increased connectedness, such that increased IH at time 1 predicted increased connectedness at time 2, which predicted decreased distress at time 3. These results provide evidence that LGBQ+ individuals may cope with IH by seeking connections with other LGBQ+ people, which has positive benefits for mental health. Implications for research, clinical practice, and policy are discussed.