The moderating role of emotion regulation and hope between minority stress, and systemic social media experiences on psychological distress and help-seeking behaviors of sexual and gender minority adults

Abstract

This study utilized a structural equation model analysis to find what moderation, if any, exists between minority stressors and systemic social media experiences on psychological distress and help-seeking behavior with emotion regulation and hope. This study sought to find what differences exist, if any, between sexual minority adolescents and gender minority adolescents for pathways to psychological distress and help-seeking behaviors. This study used a diverse sample of sexual and gender minority adults from across the United States, N = 1277, recruited through convenience and stratified methods. Results from the analysis indicate significant, direct relationships between minority stress, social media experiences, hope, and emotion regulation to psychological distress and help-seeking behavior. Results indicate a significant interaction relationship of minority stress with hope on help seeking behavior and minority stress with emotional regulation on help-seeking behavior. Results indicate that a relationship between variables exist, and their significance may moderate one another. The methods, research, and clinical implication will be discussed.