Perceptions of Self, Others and Group Identity as Predictors of Life Satisfaction and Mental Health for Autistic and LGBQ+ Adults
Open AccessThis study was based in Minority Stress Theory, which hypothesizes that the stressors associated with being marginalized and multiply-marginalized will negatively impact autistic and LGBQ+ participants (Botha & Frost, 2020; Meyer, 2003; 2015). This research explores variables associated with self and others’ acceptance, as well as one’s feeling of identity within one’s marginalized group(s), toward predicting life satisfaction and mental health (including depression, anxiety, and stress) in these populations and the population who have both of these identities. Research shows that people who have one or more of these identities face stigma, discrimination, and other stressors (Bonvinci, 2017; Johnson & Joshi, 2014; Meyer, 2015; Scott et al., 2017; Storch et al., 2012; Strang et al., 2018; Zablotsky et al., 2014), and this study found this to be true with the greatest impacts affecting those who have both marginalized identities. This is particularly important to know as autistic individuals are more than three times more likely than the general population to be LGBTQ+, and therefore, more likely as a group to face these compounding minority stressors (Bennett & Goodall, 2016; Dewinter, de Graaf, & Begeer, 2017; George & Stokes, 2018; Hillier et al, 2020; Jacobs et al., 2014; Øien, Cicchetti, & Nordahl-Hansen, 2018). Self-esteem was found to be a significant mediator between the variables of parental acceptance, group identity and concealment in models predicting for life satisfaction and the markers of mental health for marginalized participants. The relationship between group identity and life satisfaction was found to be moderated by whether or not a participant was autistic, and furthermore, was multiply marginalized. Regression analyses showed that concealment played the biggest and most frequent role in levels of life satisfaction and mental health in autistic individuals who are and are not LGBQ+. Clinical and community implications of these findings are discussed.
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