The present study, using a moderated mediational model, explored levels of distal/proximal stressors, rumination, resilience, and health in a group of Italian and Taiwanese LGB+ people. The study also examined the role of internalized sexual stigma (ISS) and rumination as mediators between discrimination and health, and resilience as a moderator of the relationship between discrimination and ISS, rumination, and health, respectively. An online survey was administered to 508 LGB+ participants (270 Italian and 238 Taiwanese) whose age ranged from 18 to 70 years (M = 37.93, SD = 13.53). The moderated mediation model was tested through a series of path analyses stratified by group nationality. Italian participants reported higher discrimination and resilience, but lower ISS, rumination, and health problems compared to their Taiwanese counterparts. The only common path between groups was the direct effect of discrimination on health problems. The mediating role of ISS and rumination in the relationship between discrimination and health, as well as the moderating role of resilience, were partly significant only for the Italian group. Conclusions: The findings suggest that mediators and moderators used to evaluate the effects of minority stress on health may differ between groups; further culturally sensitive research in the field of LGB+ health is needed.

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Background Tzu Chi University in Taiwan offers a unique mentoring program. This program differs from others as it comprises triple mentorship, namely, faculty mentors, Tzu Cheng/Yi De (TC/YD; senior volunteers), and school counselors. This study aimed to survey the role functions of the mentors from the perspective of medical students. Methods The Role Functions of the Mentoring Program Scale (RFMPS) was developed on the basis of literature reviews and focus groups and it underwent exploratory factor analysis for internal consistency and reliability. RFMPS comprises four role functions, namely, mental, educational, career, and humanistic/moral guidance counseling. The survey was distributed to 171 medical students via an online network with two-month intervals and was analyzed using multivariate analysis of variance. Results The overall response rate was 64% (116/171). The mean scores of the four role functions in descending order belonged to faculty mentors, TC/YD, and school counselors. For humanistic/moral guidance, students had an equal preference for the faculty mentors and TC/YD over school counselors. As for educational, career, and mental guidance counseling, students preferred faculty mentors over TC/YD and school counselors. Faculty mentors provided students with the required guidance counseling for all the four role functions, especially educational guidance; TC/YD in particular offered prominent humanistic/moral guidance and career counseling; school counselors were less preferred but guided students in need. Conclusions Medical students value different role functions provided by faculty mentors, TC/YD, and school counselors. A diversified focus could be provided by the faculty mentors, particularly in educational, career, mental, and humanistic/moral counseling; TC/YD specialized in humanistic/moral guidance; and the school counselors carried out their role function only when needed. Humanistic/moral guidance is equally preferred to other types of guidance, which can be equally valuable in future mentoring programs.

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Background: Tzu Chi University (TCU) in Taiwan offers a mentoring program that differs from others since it comprises triple mentors: faculty mentors, Tzu Cheng/Yi De (TC/YDs who are senior volunteers), and school counselors. This study aimed to analyze medical student’s perceptions of the triple mentors’ role functions using a self-developed assessment tool.Methods: The Role Functions of the Mentoring Program Scale (RFMPS) was developed through literature reviews, focus groups, and underwent exploratory factor analysis for internal consistency and reliability. The RFMPS consists of 16 items measuring the triple mentors’ role functions on a five-point Likert scale. Items covered four role functions: mental counseling, educational guidance, career counseling, and humanistic/moral guidance. Student’s perceptions were collected through an online survey and analyzed using a multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA).Results: The overall response rate was 64% (116/171). Faculty mentors provided students with preferable guidance counseling in all four role functions; TC/YDs particularly offered prominent humanistic/moral guidance and career counseling; school counselors were less preferred and guided students in need. Besides, students were evenly guided regarding their gender and year. The RFMPS was a reliable tool for evaluating the mentoring program as a whole.Conclusions: Faculty mentors, TC/YDs, and school counselors comprehensively performed their role functions in the mentoring program. Humanistic/moral guidance is current and comparable to educational, career, and mental guidance counseling; the mentoring program can extend its scope by including humanistic, moral, or spiritual connotations.