Causes of Minority Stress in LGB and TGNC Individuals

Minority stress is a cumulative and unique form of stress resulting from societal and environmental conditions. This integrative review aimed to synthesize factors that generate minority stress in lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender and gender nonconforming individuals. Systematic literature searches were conducted in 7 databases, and the data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Five main themes were identified: (1) social ambivalence, (2) identity formation, (3) persecution from society, (4) inequity in society, and (5) devaluation of identity. Nursing and health sciences can benefit from incorporating this theoretical framework when designing interventions that promote health and prevent illness among sexual and gender minorities.