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ABSTRACT
Those who adhere to system-justifying beliefs benefit from a palliative function that buffers negative effects on psychological wellbeing. This has been consistently observed for high-status groups, whereas for members of low-status groups, it remains rather unclear whether system justification exerts a positive or a negative effect. This study tested the palliative effect of system justification on symptoms of anxiety-depression in a gay men and lesbian sample (N = 467) in Chile. Results from moderated mediation analyses revealed that system justification beliefs buffer symptoms of anxiety and depression. However, system justification enhances anxious and depressive symptoms through internalized homonegativity; this mediation effect was significant for gay men. We pose that justifying the social order comprises two contradictory functions: system justification as a coping source and, otherwise, as a source of distress under conditions of in-group derogation, posing a threat to wellbeing among members of low-status groups (as observed in gay and lesbian individuals). Implications of the opposing effects and gender differences are further discussed in this study.
Funding
Funding was received from Fondo Nacional de Desarrollo Científico y Tecnológico (1140887).