Minority stress and life meaning among bisexual adults: The role of religiosity.

Abstract

Research has found that bisexual stress is negatively associated with well-being outcomes, but little research has examined ameliorating factors in these links. The current study explored the relation between bisexual stress-specifically heterosexist discrimination, expectations of rejection, and internalized biphobia-and life meaning among 365 bisexual individuals. Additionally, we sought to examine the potential moderating role of religiosity. We used structural equation modeling to test our hypothesized model. Expectations of rejection and internalized biphobia, but not discrimination, had significant negative direct effects on life meaning. However, expectations of rejection and internalized biphobia mediated the discriminationϪmeaning link such that discrimination had negative indirect effects on meaning through both variables. Last, religiosity moderated the discriminationϪlife meaning link such that people higher in religiosity experienced reductions in meaning in life because of greater discrimination. Practical implications and directions for future research are discussed. Public Significance StatementThe present study helps to highlight the relation between discrimination and meaning in life in bisexual people, as well as the role religiosity plays in this link. Our study also analyzes the unique experiences of bisexual people regarding bisexual stressors and well-being and provides future directions and practical implications for researchers and clinicians.

Affirming and nonaffirming religious beliefs predicting depression and suicide risk among Latter-Day Saint sexual minorities.

“…Nonaffirming religious beliefs about one's sexuality may be particularly prone to inducing proximal minority stressors like internalized stigma, because they frequently center on a person's meaning making system (Dahl & Galliher, 2012;Moscardini et al, 2018;Rosenkrantz et al, 2016). For example, religious beliefs commonly frame a person's understanding of themselves, their relationships with others, their purpose in life, and what may This document is copyrighted by the American Psychological Association or one of its allied publishers.…”

Contextualizing Cisgender Women's Histories of Intimate Partner Violence Victimization With Men and Women

“…This manifested as shame, a psycho-sociocultural construct defined as a feeling of being flawed and thus unworthy of acceptance, belonging, and love (Brown, 2006). Previous research has found that internalized homophobia or biphobia that may result from rejection is associated with lower levels of life meaning (Moscardini et al, 2018), and this is particularly salient for bisexual people (la Roi et al, 2019). Community connection is an important factor that may result in greater coping in the face of discrimination.…”

“…Community connection is an important factor that may result in greater coping in the face of discrimination. However, there is evidence to suggest that religiosity may not buffer bisexual individuals from the deleterious impacts of rejection related to sexual orientation (Moscardini et al, 2018). Collectively, this body of research emphasizes the need to consider the unique lived experiences of mostly heterosexual women in violence prevention and intervention efforts and consider strategies for building community connection for SMW, and survivors in particular, who may or may not feel connected to the LGBQ community.…”

Trustworthiness and Stability in Same and Different Sex Relationships: Heterosexuals’ Attitudes toward Bisexuality

“…Bisexual individuals experience internalized biphobia for a myriad of reasons and the perception that their sexual orientation is not legitimate can increase these feelings (Burke & LaFrance, 2018). Internalized biphobia can lead to several negative health outcomes and decreased wellbeing (Moscardini, Douglass, Conlin, & Duffy, 2018). The findings from the present study possibly suggesting that perceptions of the stability of bisexuality as a sexual orientation are changing may impact bisexual individuals' own internalized biphobia (if present), which could lead to heightened feelings of security and comfort when coming out, which can increase bisexual clients' own wellbeing (Moscardini et al, 2018).…”

“…Additionally, this perception of low trustworthiness may lead bisexual clients to hide their sexual orientation from romantic partners or others in their lives (Bostwick & Hequembourg, 2014). Being unable to "come out" and live authentically in their own sexual orientation can lead to negative health and wellness outcomes (Burke & LaFrance, 2018, Moscardini et al, 2018. Also, just as perceived untrustworthiness of bisexual individuals may make it difficult for heterosexual individuals to initiate romantic relationships with prospective bisexual romantic partners, it may make it difficult for bisexual individuals to initiate relationships with heterosexual partners, limiting the dating pool for bisexual individuals to other bisexual individuals (Bostwick & Hequembourg, 2014).…”