LGBTQ-Related Individual Differences Predict Emotional Reactions to the Pulse Nightclub Shootings

• Published in: Violence and victims Vol. 35; no. 2; p. 210
• Main Authors: Maduro, Ralitsa S, Sheehan, Brynn E, Hitson, Phoebe, Shappie, Alexander T, Derlega, Valerian J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.04.2020
• Subjects: Bisexuality; Female; Florida; Homosexuality, Female; Humans; Individuality; Male; Mass Casualty Incidents; Sexual and Gender Minorities; Social Values; Stress, Psychological; Transgender Persons; Violence; Florida; anti-LGBTQ hate crimes; Pulse nightclub shootings; vicarious trauma; negative affect; LGBTQ-related individual differences
• ISSN: 0886-6708
• DOI: 10.1891/VV-D-18-00187

This study examined, among 232 lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning (LGBTQ) participants, the association of identity centrality and public regard with negative affect about the Pulse nightclub shootings in Orlando, Florida. Identification with victims and perceived threat to personal safety were sequential mediators. Identity centrality was associated with greater identification with the shooting victims. In turn, identification with the victims was associated with greater perceived threat, followed by more negative affect. Low public regard was associated with greater perceived threat that, in turn, was associated with more negative affect. The results support the notion that LGBTQ-related individual differences increase distress about anti-sexual/gender minority hate crimes, especially for individuals with a strong LGBTQ identity and who believe that the majority, heterosexual society devalues sexual/gender minority persons.