Perceived discrimination and well-being in gay men: the protective role of behavioural identification

Abstract

Gay men regularly experience both individual and structural prejudice and discrimination, which have been shown to negatively impact well-being. The current study examined the potentially protective role of behavioural identification, a dimension of group identity, as a mediator of the relationship between perceived discrimination and well-being among gay men. The results revealed that behavioural identification mediated a positive indirect relationship between perceived discrimination and self-esteem, suppressing the negative association between these two variables. A similar pattern of results was obtained for positive affect. Implications of these results with regard to public policies targeting gay men are addressed.

Keywords:

• perceived discrimination
• group identification
• stigma
• gay men
• well-being

Additional information

Notes on contributors

David Matthew Doyle

David Matthew Doyle received his B.S. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and his M.A. in social psychology from Loyola University Chicago. Currently, he is a second-year doctoral student at Tulane University working with Dr. Lisa Molix to investigate the influence of social stigma on health as well as strategies members of devalued groups utilize in order to cope with threats to identity. One of his primary lines of research examines the negative effect of social identity threat on romantic relationships and physiological/neuroendocrine mechanisms associated with this effect. Generally, Mr. Doyle is interested in research that has the potential to inform public policy and reduce social disparities in health.

Lisa Molix

Lisa Molix received her B.A. in Psychology and Spanish, as well as M.A. and Ph.D. in Social and Personality Psychology from the University of Missouri, Columbia. Currently, she is an assistant professor of psychology at Tulane University. Dr. Molix’s research focuses on intergroup relations, psychological and physical health among members of marginalized groups, and the intersections between these areas – namely preventing/reducing social disparities. Her work has been funded by the National Institutes of Health and the Louisiana Board of Regents. Her work is currently funded by a National Institutes of Health K-12 career development award through the Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women’s Health (BIRCWH) program.