Within-minority group discomfort in lesbian, gay, and bisexual emerging adults of color: Implications for group identification and well-being

Abstract

The present study explored the underlying mechanisms linking how discomfort experienced from within an individual’s minority groups (both their racial community and LGB community) was linked with overall well-being via identification with the LGB community. Using a sample of 745 LGB emerging adults of color drawn from the Social Justice Sexuality Project, we found that discomfort in the LGB community was associated with lower levels of group identification with the LGB community. Discomfort experienced in one’s racial community was associated with higher levels of LGB group identification. LGB group identification was associated with higher levels of well-being. Additionally, we found that LGB group identification significantly mediated the association between perceived homophobia in the racial community and well-being.

Keywords:

• Discomfort
• identity
• group identification
• LGBT issues
• well-being