Moderating effects of coping strategies on the associations between stigma and depression among emerging adults

Emerging adult sexual and gender minority (EA-SGM) populations experience many forms of stigma, which places them at greater risk for mental health problems. In this prospective study, we examined the association between depression and three types of stigma, gender identity stigma, discrimination, and enacted stigma in EA-SGM. We also examined whether different coping strategies moderated these associations.

We used longitudinal data collected from 64 EA-SGM as part of a pilot randomized controlled trial. Participants' mental health was assessed at baseline, 2 months, 4 months, and 6 months. We used time-lagged, mixed-effects models to examine the moderating effects of three coping strategies (i.e., problem-focused, avoidant, and emotion-focused coping) on the association between stigma and subsequent depression.

Problem-focused coping buffered the negative effects of gender identity stigma on depression but did not protect against the effects of discrimination and enacted stigma. In contrast, avoidant coping exacerbated the association between discrimination and depression. None of the three coping strategies moderated the association between enacted stigma and depression.

The moderating effects of coping strategies varied by type of stigma. If these findings are confirmed, future mental health interventions for minority populations may benefit from tailored coping strategies to specific stressors.