The influence of shame in the psychological well-being of asexual people who experienced discrimination: A mediation model

Abstract

Research on sexual minorities has demonstrated that they face greater risks of experiencing poorer mental health due to minority stress factors, but there has been limited investigation into how these factors affect the well-being of asexual individuals. This study addressed this gap by examining whether shame played a mediating role in the relationship between discrimination and the mental health outcomes (i.e., social anxiety and psychological distress) of asexual individuals, as well as whether social support moderated the association between discrimination and shame. Data for this cross-sectional study were collected through an online questionnaire as part of the VisaJe project, which examined the stigmatization of sexually inexperienced emerging adults. Validated scales were used to measure the study variables among a sample of 177 asexual individuals aged between 18 and 42. Structural equation modelling revealed that social support did not have a moderating effect on the relationship between discrimination and shame. However, after controlling for variables such as social support, gender, developmental period and ethnic minority status, the results indicated that shame partially mediated the relationship between discrimination and psychological distress, and fully mediated the relationship between discrimination and social anxiety. These findings indicate that asexual individuals face similar pathways linking discrimination to mental health, mirroring those observed in other sexual minority groups, as they derogate from the norms of compulsory sexuality. However, general support may not serve as a protective factor for asexual individuals facing discrimination. The implications of these findings for future studies and professional practice are discussed.