LGBT stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. Discrimination refers to negative actions towards someone based on their gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, religion, disability, or other factors. Cumulative exposure is when repeated experiences cause harmful effects over time. Emotional exhaustion is feeling physically and psychologically drained due to work-related issues. Anxiety is an unpleasant state caused by fear or worry about possible threats to safety or wellbeing. Stress regulation refers to how individuals manage stressful situations. This article will explore the relationship between cumulative exposure to discrimination and emotional exhaustion, anxiety, and stress regulation among LGBT individuals.
The literature review suggests that LGBT individuals experience high levels of discrimination in various settings, including education, employment, healthcare, housing, public accommodations, and criminal justice. Research shows that discriminatory treatment leads to emotional distress, which can manifest as physical symptoms like headaches, stomach aches, insomnia, and fatigue. These reactions are associated with increased risk for depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and suicidal ideation. Moreover, discrimination contributes to poor mental health outcomes such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex trauma. PTSD results from a single traumatic event or a series of traumatic events. Complex trauma involves repeated experiences of interpersonal violence, neglect, and maltreatment throughout childhood. Discrimination may also lead to identity confusion, low self-esteem, and difficulty trusting others, resulting in further emotional distress.
Research indicates that discrimination harms LGBT people's ability to cope with daily challenges.
LGBT individuals who encounter frequent discrimination may become hypervigilant, always on guard against potential threats. They may develop a sense of isolation and feel unable to seek social support when facing difficulties. In contrast, those who face less discrimination may have more positive coping strategies, such as problem-solving and seeking social support. Thus, cumulative exposure to discrimination may undermine an individual's resilience over time and exacerbate their experience of stressful situations.
Discrimination is associated with higher levels of physiological arousal, including increased heart rate, blood pressure, and cortisol secretion. This heightened physiological response can make it difficult to relax and regulate emotion, leading to greater anxiety and emotional exhaustion.
This chronic activation can weaken the body's immune system, increasing vulnerability to illness and disease.
Discrimination may also contribute to impaired cognitive functioning, affecting decision making and memory recall, impacting academic or work performance.
This article has explored how repeated experiences of discrimination relate to emotional exhaustion, anxiety, and stress regulation among LGBT individuals. The literature suggests that discrimination causes emotional distress, impairs coping skills, increases physiological arousal, and compromises cognitive functioning. These effects are cumulative over time, suggesting that addressing discrimination is crucial for promoting mental health and wellbeing in LGBT communities.
How does cumulative exposure to discrimination relate to emotional exhaustion, anxiety, and stress regulation among LGBT individuals over time?
Research suggests that cumulative experiences of discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals are related to heightened levels of emotional exhaustion, anxiety, and challenges with stress regulation. This may be due to ongoing negative life events creating physiological wear and tear that can impact mental health over time.