Differences in sociodemographics
The levels of the two sociodemographic variables age and educational level were compared between both samples. Independent t-tests revealed that our gay and bisexual sample was younger, t(2376) = −15.83, p < .001, and reported a higher education level, t(2376) = 29.90, p < .001, than our population sample.
Mental health comparisons
Our gay and bisexual sample’s mental health problems’ mean was .60 (SD = .60, range = 0 to 3.2), while the population sample’s mean was .34 (SD = .43, range = 0 to 3.0). The mean value of mental health problems measured .50 (SD = .55, range = 0 to 3.2) when both samples were combined.
An ANCOVA (weighted for group size) was computed with mental health of gay and bisexual men versus the population sample as outcomes. Age and educational level were used as covariates. The ANCOVA revealed the following results: the two groups differed significantly in mental health, F(1,2360) = 104.47, p < .001, with a medium effect size, d = .43. Age influenced mental health significantly, F(1,2360) = 36.78, p < .001, with a small effect size, d = .25: older participants displayed fewer mental health problems. In addition, the educational degree influenced mental health significantly, F(1,2360) = 45.31, p < .001, with a small effect size, d = .28. The better educated participants thus reported fewer mental health problems.
Minority stress and mental health
Bivariate correlations of the constructs were computed within the gay and bisexual sample only (see Table
1). Victimization correlated positively with rejection sensitivity,
r = .25,
p < .001, and internalized homonegativity,
r = .09,
p < .01. Rejection sensitivity was associated with internalized homonegativity,
r = .23,
p < .001. Mental health was positively associated with all three minority stress scales,
r = .31 to .39,
p < .001 (Table
1).
Table 1
Bivariate correlations of the scales in the gay and bisexual sample
1. Victimization | | | | |
2. Rejection sensitivity | .25*** | | | |
3. Internalized homonegativity | .09** | .23*** | | |
4. Mental health | .34*** | .31*** | .39*** | |
Comparisons between gay and bisexual men in minority stressors revealed that gay men reported more victimization, t(1422) = 2.46, p < .05, and less internalized homonegativity, t(1422) = −7.05, p < .001, than bisexual men. No differences were found in rejection sensitivity, t(1422) = −.11, p > .05, or mental health, t(1422) = 1.17, p > .05.
Furthermore, a step-wise regression analysis was computed for the gay and bisexual sample to analyze possible reasons for the mental health differences that the ANCOVA revealed. Mental health was used as the criterion. In step 1, sociodemographics were included as predictors, while victimization, rejection sensitivity, and internalized homonegativity were introduced as predictors in steps 2 to 4 (see Table
2).
Table 2
Step-Wise linear regression on mental health
Step 1 | | .04*** |
Age | −.12*** | |
Education level | −.16*** | |
Step 2 | | .15*** |
Victimization | .34*** | |
Step 3 | | .20*** |
Rejection sensitivity | .23*** | |
Step 4 | | .31*** |
Internalized homonegativity | .35*** | |
In step 1, an older age, β = −.12, p < .001, and a higher education level, β = −.16, p < .001, predicted significantly fewer mental health problems. Model 1 thereby explained 4% of the criterion’s variance. In step 2, victimization significantly predicted mental health problems, β = .34, p < .001, and 15% of the criterion’s variance was explained. In step 3, rejection sensitivity significantly predicted mental health problems, β = .23, p < .001, with 20% of the variance in mental health problems explained. In step 4, internalized homonegativity significantly predicted mental health problems, β = .35, p < .001, thereby increasing the explained variance to 31%.