Minority stress and mental health among Dutch LGBs: Examination of differences between sex and sexual orientation.

TLDR

Minority stress is widely cited as a key factor behind the higher prevalence of mental health problems in lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals compared to heterosexuals, yet research on sex or sexual orientation differences in this context—especially outside the United States—is limited. The study examined the robustness of the minority stress model by conducting secondary analyses of a Dutch population survey on sexual health, focusing on mental health outcomes among men and women with predominantly same‑sex attraction and those equally attracted to both sexes. Using data from 389 Dutch participants (118 gay men, 40 bisexual men, 184 lesbian women, and 54 bisexual women), the authors assessed how internalized homonegativity, negative reactions from others, and openness about sexual orientation relate to mental health. Results showed that minority stress predicts mental health problems, with higher internalized homonegativity and negative reactions linked to greater distress, stronger effects for lesbian/gay than bisexual participants, and openness improving mental health only for women.

Abstract

Minority stress is often cited as an explanation for greater mental health problems among lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals than heterosexual individuals. However, studies focusing on sex or sexual orientation differences in level of minority stress and its impact on mental health are scarce, even more so outside the United States. Performing secondary analyses on the data of a Dutch population study on sexual health, the present study examines the robustness of the minority stress model by explaining mental health problems among men and women with mostly or only same-sex sexual attraction, and men and women who are equally attracted to same-sex and opposite-sex partners in the "gay-friendly" Netherlands (N = 389; 118 gay men, 40 bisexual men, 184 lesbian women, and 54 bisexual women). Results showed that minority stress is also related to mental health of Dutch LGBs. Participants with a higher level of internalized homonegativity and those who more often encountered negative reactions from other people on their same-sex sexual attraction reported more mental health problems. Such negative reactions from others, however, had a stronger link with mental health among lesbian/gay than among bisexual participants. Openness about one's sexual orientation was related to better mental health among sexual minority women, but not among their male counterparts. Suggestions for future research, implications for counseling, and other societal interventions are discussed.