Stress Testing the Minority Stress Model: It's Not Just Neuroticism

• Published in: Psychology of sexual orientation and gender diversity 2024-09, Vol.11 (3), p.538-547
• Main Authors: Borgogna, Nicholas C., Aita, Stephen L.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Conscientiousness; Discrimination; Female; Homosexuality (Attitudes Toward); Human; Major Depression; Male; Minority Stress; Neuroticism; Sexual Minority Groups; Stress
• ISSN: 2329-0382; 2329-0390
• DOI: 10.1037/sgd0000620

The minority stress model is a popular framework for understanding sexual minority mental health disparities. A wide body of literature has demonstrated that distal and proximal stressors are significantly related to sexual minority people's depression symptoms. However, many studies validating minority stress mechanisms do not adjust for constructs known to correlate with depression. To address this issue, we conducted two studies examining how distal and proximal stress correlate with depression, while adjusting for Big-5 personality traits (particularly neuroticism) and general stress. Study 1 (N = 435 nonheterosexual community participants living in the United States) demonstrated that proximal and perceived distal stress were significantly and positively associated with depression scores, while adjusting for Big-5 personality traits and recent general stress. Neuroticism and recent general stress were also positively associated with depression, as was conscientiousness (weakly and inversely) in the full model. Study 2 (N = 485 nonheterosexual community participants living in the United States) served as a replication. Results fully replicated Study 1 (with exception to conscientiousness no longer correlating with depression in the full model). Both models accounted for a substantial portion of depression variability (60% and 69%, respectively). Betas indicated that perceived distal and proximal stress indicators were modestly, though meaningfully, related to depression in both studies. Neuroticism and current general stress were also significantly correlated with depression. Results extend the minority stress framework by demonstrating that sexual minority individuals' experiences with discrimination and internalized stress are significantly associated with depression, above-and-beyond that which can be attributable to personality and current general stress. Public Significance Statement Perceived discrimination and reported stigma (minority stressors) are consistent correlates of depression in sexual and gender minority samples. However, personality factors, particularly neuroticism, and general stress (not associated with identity) are also associated with depression. Our study shows that minority stressors are significantly associated with depression scores above-and-beyond that which can be attributable to personality and recent general stress indicators.