Minority Stress and Mental Health: A Review of the Literature

• Published in: Journal of homosexuality Vol. 70; no. 5; pp. 806 - 830
• Main Author: Hoy-Ellis, Charles P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Routledge 16.04.2023; Taylor & Francis LLC
• Subjects: bisexual; Bisexuality; Cultural attitudes; Discrimination; Female; gay; health and health disparities; Health disparities; Homosexuality, Female; Humans; Lesbian; Lesbianism; LGBTQ people; life course; Literature reviews; Mental Health; Minority groups; minority stress; sexual and gender identity; Sexual and Gender Minorities; Sexual Behavior; Sexual orientation; Stereotypes; Stress; transgender (LGBT); Transgender persons; Victimization; minority stress; transgender (LGBT); bisexual; sexual and gender identity; health and health disparities; Lesbian; gay; life course
• ISSN: 0091-8369; 1540-3602
• DOI: 10.1080/00918369.2021.2004794

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) populations experience significant health disparities, theorized to result from LGBT specific minority stressors. The fully conceptualized Minority Stress Model was published more than 15 years ago. Minority stressors include external conditions and events, such as discrimination and victimization. Internal minority stressors include expectations of rejection and discrimination, concealment of minority identity, and internalizations of negative dominant cultural attitudes, beliefs, stereotypes, and values. Connection to sexual and gender minority communities is theorized to moderate the effects of minority stressors. In this integrative review, I examine two decades of research on minority stress. Based on this review, I highlight strengths and limitations of the model, and suggest next steps for moving minority stress research forward.