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Sexual Stigma, Coping Styles, and Psychological Distress: A Longitudinal Study of Men Who Have Sex With Men in Beijing, China

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Abstract

The direct link between stigma against sexual minorities and psychological distress is well established. However, few studies have examined the potential mediating roles of avoidant and social support coping in the relationships between internalized and anticipated stigma associated with homosexuality and depressive symptoms and anxiety among Chinese men who have sex with men (MSM). We recruited a longitudinal sample of 493 MSM in Beijing, China from 2011 to 2012. Participants completed computer-based questionnaires at baseline, 6, and 12 months. We found significant indirect effects of anticipated MSM stigma on symptoms of both depression and anxiety via avoidant coping: anticipated MSM stigma at baseline was significantly associated with avoidant coping (B = 0.523, p < 0.001) at 6 months and, conditional on anticipated MSM stigma, avoidant coping had a significant positive effect on depressive symptoms and anxiety at 12 months (B = 0.069, p = 0.001 and B = 0.071, p = 0.014). In contrast, no significant indirect effects of anticipated MSM stigma on either psychological distress outcome via social support coping were found. No significant indirect effects of internalized MSM stigma via either avoidant or social support coping were found. These results underscore the need for interventions that address anticipations of stigma and the use of avoidant coping techniques to manage such anticipations.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the National Institute of Mental Health Grant R01 MH085581.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for AIDS Prevention Studies, Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, 550 16th Street, Floor 3, Box 0886, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA

    Kyung-Hee Choi, Wayne T. Steward, Esther Hudes & Steven E. Gregorich

  2. Institute of Social Development and Public Policy, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China

    Pierre Miège

Authors
  1. Kyung-Hee Choi
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  2. Wayne T. Steward
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  3. Pierre Miège
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  4. Esther Hudes
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  5. Steven E. Gregorich
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Correspondence to Kyung-Hee Choi.

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Choi, KH., Steward, W.T., Miège, P. et al. Sexual Stigma, Coping Styles, and Psychological Distress: A Longitudinal Study of Men Who Have Sex With Men in Beijing, China. Arch Sex Behav 45, 1483–1491 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-015-0640-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-015-0640-z

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