The Relationship Between Community Connectedness and Minority Stress Across LGBTQ+ Identities

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between community connectedness and minority stress across diverse LGBTQ+ identities, using survey data from 105 participants recruited through Prolific. Drawing on Meyer’s (2003) Minority Stress Model, the research tested whether higher community connectedness correlated with lower levels of proximal and distal stress, and whether inequities within the LGBTQ+ community moderated this relationship. Results showed no significant correlations between community connectedness and minority stress, though partial support was found for the hypothesis that less-supported identities, particularly transgender individuals, experienced greater inequity and higher stress. Analyses further indicated that gender identity predicted higher distal stress, while sexual orientation predicted lower distal stress, suggesting visibility of gender expression plays a unique role. Additionally, both community connectedness and inequity were positively associated with stress, with inequity having the stronger effect. Despite limitations in sample diversity and size, findings highlight the complex interplay between identity, stress, and social support, underscoring the need for more inclusive and representative research on LGBTQ+ minority stress and community dynamics.