Community Support for Buffering Discrimination
A study conducted in 2018 explored how community support can help alleviate the mental health problems associated with discrimination among LGBTQ+ individuals. Researchers recruited 149 participants from an online panel of LGBTQ+ individuals aged 18 to 60 years old who self-identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, pansexual, asexual, agender, bigender, demisexual, or polysexual. Participants completed a survey that assessed their experiences of discrimination, perceived social support, depression, anxiety, and stress levels. The results showed that those who reported high levels of social support had lower rates of psychological distress compared to those with low levels of social support. The findings suggest that community support may be an important factor in mitigating the negative effects of discrimination on mental health.
How does community support work?
Community support is defined as the availability of people, resources, and services within a person's social network that provide emotional, practical, and instrumental assistance during times of need. This type of support can take many forms, including informal networks of friends and family members, formal organizations such as religious groups or political movements, and public initiatives like crisis hotlines or advocacy campaigns. Community support can buffer against discrimination by providing a sense of belonging, validation, and security for LGBTQ+ individuals who are often marginalized and stigmatized by society. When individuals feel connected to others who share similar identities and experiences, they may experience less isolation, loneliness, and alienation, which can reduce feelings of anxiety and depression.
Community support can help individuals develop a sense of empowerment and resilience, enabling them to cope more effectively with discriminatory events and environments.
Types of Support
There are several different types of community support that may play a role in buffering the impact of discrimination on mental health. One type is informational support, which involves sharing information about LGBTQ+ issues, resources, and strategies for coping with discrimination. Another type is appraisal support, which involves affirming and validating an individual's identity and experiences. Affiliative support includes providing emotional comfort and empathy, while instrumental support provides practical assistance such as financial aid, job referrals, or legal advice.
Personal support involves spending time together, engaging in activities, and participating in social events.
Benefits of Community Support
Research has shown that community support can have numerous benefits for LGBTQ+ individuals facing discrimination.
One study found that community-based interventions were associated with improved psychological wellbeing among HIV-positive gay men, including increased self-esteem, decreased depressive symptoms, and greater life satisfaction. Another study showed that social support from family members was related to lower levels of internalized homophobia among lesbian and bisexual women. In addition, community support has been linked to reduced risk of suicide attempts, substance abuse, and other adverse outcomes.
Community support can be an important resource for promoting mental health resiliency and reducing the negative effects of discrimination among LGBTQ+ individuals.
Limited Research
While research suggests that community support may help mitigate the impact of discrimination on mental health, more studies are needed to confirm these findings. Future research should explore how different types of community support may affect specific populations (e.g., transgender individuals) or specific forms of discrimination (e.g., sexual orientation discrimination).
Longitudinal studies could examine whether community support helps prevent or reduce long-term psychological problems associated with discrimination.
Further research is necessary to understand the role of community support in buffering the psychological impact of discrimination among LGBTQ+ individuals.
What role does community support play in buffering the psychological impact of discrimination?
Community support can help individuals cope with the negative effects of discrimination by providing social connection and emotional support. People who feel supported by their communities may experience less isolation, loneliness, and depression, which are common psychological consequences of experiencing discrimination. Community support can also provide practical assistance such as financial aid, job opportunities, and advocacy for legal redress, which can mitigate some of the material consequences of discrimination.