Minority Stress and LGB-Inclusive Television Viewing Frequency Among LGB Adults: The Roles of Community Connectedness and Perceived Social Support

Abstract

Using a cross-sectional, correlational design, the present study examined the moderating roles of perceived social support and community connectedness in the relationship between minority stress and viewing frequency of lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB)–inclusive television shows among LGB adults. Participants identified predominately as White and female, and the largest group identified as bisexual. Participants completed self-report measures of minority stressors, social support, LGB community connectedness, and viewing frequency. A multiple linear regression was conducted to examine the relationships among these variables. Findings revealed that perceived social support moderated the effect of prejudice events on viewing frequency, such that LGB viewers who reported high levels of prejudice events and low perceived social support endorsed the highest levels of viewing frequency. These findings provide further insight into the ways in which LGB individuals consume media content and may be informative for clinicians in understanding coping strategies for minority stress among LGB clients.

Notes

¹ The term sexual minority includes those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, or any other nonheterosexual sexual identity.

² Although current estimates suggest that the proportion of LGBTQ characters is consistent with population estimates, there are still many fewer sexual minority characters on television than there are heterosexual.

³ The measurement of this construct varies within the literature. Meyer (2003) described expectations of discrimination as a chronic experience of anxiety and stress, where a member of a marginalized group anticipates a lack of acceptance from the dominant culture. As a result, these individuals engage in defensive coping strategies to remain vigilant in the face of expected discrimination. Several instruments have been developed to assess expectations of discrimination that may not fully capture these experiences for sexual minority individuals. For instance, Pachankis, Golfried, and Ramrattan (2008) Gay-Related Rejection Sensitivity Scale provides a series of vignettes that are specific to gay men and may not be applicable to other sexual minority individuals. Several other measures work to capture rejection sensitivity among specific populations (e.g., Kuyper & Fokkema, 2010; Link, 1987) but may not capture the construct as Meyer (2003) described it.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Kate Winderman

Kate Winderman (Ph.D., University of Houston, 2018) is completing her postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Chicago Student Counseling Service. Her research interests include mental health within the sexual minority community, media engagement, minority stress, career concerns, and aspects of sexual minority identity.

Nathan Grant Smith

Nathan Grant Smith (Ph.D., Virginia Commonwealth University, 2002) is an associate professor in the counseling psychology program in the Department of Psychological, Health, and Learning Sciences in the College of Education at the University of Houston. His research interests include lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and queer health disparities with an emphasis on the intersection of minority stress and health outcomes (e.g., HIV risk behaviors, tobacco use, mental health).