Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 24, 2025

Author Spotlight: Unveiling Mechanisms of Stress Resilience - Significant Findings, Advancements, and Future Research
Published on: December 15, 2023
Sexual Self-Identification Offsets and Self-Stigma Moderates: Expanding the Rejection-Identification Model to Examine
Abstract:
Gender and sexual minorities still face stigma-related stress from all areas of society. The rejection-identification model (RIM) proposes that some stigmatized individuals may respond to the negative effects of stigma on well-being by enhancing their self-identification. However, this does not apply to all gender and sexual minorities. Grounded in minority stress theory and the RIM, this study examined how stigma-related stressors (i.e. perceived stigma and self-stigma) and their associated mechanisms impact sexual self-identification and subjective well-being. A total of 366 Chinese gay and bisexual men were included in the study. The results showed that sexual self-identification, as a protective factor, mediated the association between perceived stigma and subjective well-being. Furthermore, the indirect effect of the mediation model was moderated by self-stigma, such that the indirect effect of perceived stigma on subjective well-being through sexual self-identification was the highest among Chinese gay and bisexual men with low self-stigma. Given that research into the mental health and well-being of Chinese gay and bisexual men is still in its infancy, our findings are important and may help in developing and improving socially and psychologically sensitive counseling services or intervention strategies for these populations.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Ethnic Identity within a Larger Culture
Self-Discrepancy Theory
Self-Presentation: Self-Monitoring and Self-Handicapping
Stereotype Threat and Self-fulfilling Prophecies
Stereotype Content Model
Stereotypes, Prejudice, and Discrimination

