LGBT-specific sources of support and the mental health of young lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) women

Social support and social networks are particularly important for lesbian/gay and bisexual (LGB) women in light of the disproportionate rates of depression and anxiety affecting these populations. Using a cross-sectional sample of young LGB women living in Michigan (N=164; 18-24 years old), we explored the relationship of four social support and social network constructs (i.e., parent support, peer support; LGBT community participation and connectedness) with psychological well-being (i.e., depression and anxiety symptoms). We used structural equation modeling (SEM) to examine if internalized homophobia (IH), a marker of sexual minority stress, mediated the relationship between these constructs and depression or anxiety, respectively. IH was negatively associated with parent support, and positively associated with LGBT community participation as well as with depression and anxiety symptoms, respectively. We found no direct or indirect effects of peer support or LGBT community connectedness on IH. We also did not find an association between the social support and social network constructs on depression or anxiety. We discuss the protective effects of parent support in reducing IH among LGB women, especially as it relates to mental distress. We also highlight the need to re-examine how we measure social support and social network characteristics in research, and to re-evaluate the implications of LGBT-specific community participation and identification for LGB women's mental health.