Sexual and/or Gender Minority (SGM) Stigma within Nursing Schools: The Relationship Between Stigmatic School Attributes, Minority Stressors, and SGM Nursing Student Mental Health

Nursing education is heteronormative and cis-normative, which has been correlated to stigma and ignorance exhibited by nurses towards sexual and/or gender minorities (SGM). Minority Stress Theory (MST) states that circumstances in the environment that promote stigma related to minority identities lead to unique minority stressors, such as discrimination. These minority stressors subsequently affect mental health. While it is known that SGM patients experience mental health issues that relate to stigma and discrimination in healthcare settings, nothing is known about SGM nursing students dealing with stigma and discrimination within nursing education. The aim of this descriptive correlational study was to inform nursing leaders of SGM nursing student experiences in nursing education. Using MST as a framework, 101 SGM undergraduate nursing students completed a survey measuring stigmatizing attributes within nursing education, which included right-wing authoritarianism, religiosity, non-discrimination policies, and representation. The survey also included assessing various forms of discrimination, violence, and proximal stressors, as well as mental health. Participants endorsed a lack of SGM representation within nursing education, which correlated to both increased experiences of discrimination and negative mental health. These results support the need for review of nursing curricula for inclusivity, and for continued research that is dedicated towards enhancing minority voices and experiences.