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      COPING AS A MEDIATOR OF INTERNALIZED HOMOPHOBIA AND PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS AMONG YOUNG ADULT SEXUAL MINORITY WOMEN.

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          Abstract

          Sexual minorities have higher rates of depression and anxiety than their heterosexual counterparts. This elevated risk of psychological distress has generally been hypothesized to be a result of the effects of discrimination including internalized negative beliefs about sexual minorities. However, little research has examined the role of various types of coping in mediating between internalized homophobia and mental health. We tested the direct relationship between internalized homophobia and psychological distress and evaluated general and sexual minority-specific coping strategies as potential mediators using structural equation modeling. Data are from a national sample of 1,099 young adult sexual minority women who were on average 20.86 (SD= 2.12) years old, participating in a study on mental health and substance use. The model demonstrated acceptable fit, χ(2) (83) = 402.9, p <.001, CFI=.94, TLI=.92, SRMR= .07, and RMSEA=.06, accounting for 73% of variance in psychological distress. Greater use of maladaptive coping and less use of sexual minority-specific coping were associated with higher psychological distress. Although maladaptive coping mediated the relationship between internalized homophobia and psychological distress, sexual minority-specific coping did not. Our findings support previous studies that have demonstrated the impact of internalized homophobia on psychological distress as well as the role of coping as a protective/risk factor in this relationship.

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          Author and article information

          Journal
          Psychol Sex Orientat Gend Divers
          Psychology of sexual orientation and gender diversity
          American Psychological Association (APA)
          2329-0382
          2329-0382
          Sep 2014
          : 1
          : 3
          Affiliations
          [1 ] Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle 98195.
          [2 ] School of Social Work, University of Washington, Seattle 98195.
          [3 ] State University of New York - University at Buffalo, Buffalo 14260.
          [4 ] Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle 98195 ; Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC), VA Puget Sound Health Care System.
          [5 ] College of Nursing, University of Illinois, Chicago 60612.
          Article
          NIHMS626354
          10.1037/sgd0000045
          4267564
          25530980
          49e66484-9375-49b5-ab8d-f3c9679da1b0
          History

          young adults,sexual minority women,anxiety,depression,coping

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