Abstract
Abstract
Introduction
The pathways between minority stressors and depressive symptoms require a nuanced understanding of how these stressors affect the mental health of sexual and gender minority people. It remains unclear whether minority stressors are associated with depressive symptoms through perception of workplace climate and if resilience moderates these effects.
Methods
This study examined the direct and indirect effects of different minority stressors (experiences of discrimination, internalized homophobia, expectations of rejection, and concealment of identity) on depressive symptoms through the mediating factor of perception of workplace climate and the moderating factor of resilience. Chinese lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and queer (LGBTQ) employees (N = 706) completed a cross-sectional online survey in 2021–2022. We examined the moderated mediating effects using PROCESS macro with a bootstrapping approach.
Results
Mediation results showed that the four minority stressors were each negatively associated with perceptions of workplace climate, which were associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms among Chinese LGBTQ employees. Moderated mediation models demonstrated that the conditional indirect effects of different types of minority stressors on depressive symptoms through perception of workplace climate were only significant for those with lower levels of resilience.
Conclusions
Extending the minority stress model to work settings, this study offers new knowledge about the mediating role of perception of workplace climate in the relationship between minority stressors and depressive symptoms. Knowledge about the moderating role of resilience also informs targeted interventions.
Policy Implications
Interventions targeted at reducing minority stressors, enhancing perceived workplace climate, and promoting resilience are vital to enhance LGBTQ individuals’ mental health.
Funder
Research Grants Council
Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC