The concept of sexual orientation refers to an individual's romantic, emotional, and physical attraction to individuals of different genders. It can be categorized into three main types: heterosexual, bisexual, and homosexual. Heterosexuals are attracted to people of opposite gender, whereas bisexuals are attracted to both genders. Homosexuals are drawn towards members of their own gender. Sexual orientation is determined by genetic factors, environmental conditions, hormonal changes during development, and socialization. Minority stress, on the other hand, refers to experiences that result from stigma, prejudice, discrimination, oppression, marginalization, or stereotyping based on socially constructed identities such as race, ethnicity, religion, sex, or sexual orientation. Life satisfaction is defined as a person's subjective evaluation of his/her life as fulfilling or enjoyable. Self-concept refers to how individuals perceive themselves and define themselves. The current study aimed to investigate the interaction between sexual orientation and minority stress in shaping life satisfaction and self-concept.
A sample of 200 participants was recruited through online surveys using purposive sampling. They were asked to complete questionnaires measuring sexual orientation (SO), minority stress (MS), life satisfaction (LS), and self-concept (SC). The results revealed a significant correlation between SO and LS, suggesting that individuals who identified as gay/lesbian reported lower levels of life satisfaction than those who identified as straight.
No significant association was observed between MS and LS, indicating that sexual orientation alone was not sufficient to explain the variation in life satisfaction among respondents.
There was no significant correlation between SO and SC, implying that sexual orientation did not influence the way people viewed themselves.
MS predicted SC, indicating that minority stress had an indirect effect on life satisfaction via its impact on self-conclusion. These findings suggest that the relationship between sexual orientation and wellbeing is complex and multifaceted, influenced by various factors beyond just identity status. Therefore, more research is needed to understand this intricate connection better and develop effective interventions for improving the wellbeing of sexual minorities.
How does sexual orientation interact with minority stress to shape life satisfaction and self-concept?
The research on sexual orientation and its interaction with the experience of minority stress has been an increasingly growing field within the social sciences. Studies have found that individuals who identify as LGBTQIA+ tend to report lower levels of life satisfaction than their heterosexual counterparts (McCullough & Beadnell, 2018).