Internalized heterosexism and psychological distress: A relationship mediated by self-compassion

This study examined the relationship between internalized heterosexism and psychological distress in a sample of 255 self-identified sexual minority (i.e., lesbian, gay, bisexual, and queer) adults aged 18-68 years. Utilizing an online survey, self-compassion was examined as a mediator of the relationship between internalized heterosexism and psychological distress (i.e., anxiety and depression). Findings revealed that self-compassion (SC) was inversely related to internalized heterosexism (IH) and the psychological distress variables (i.e., anxiety and depression). Further, SC fully mediated the relationship between IH and anxiety such that greater IH predicted less SC, which in turn predicted greater anxiety. Clinical implications for the role of SC in the positive mental health outcomes of sexual minorities are discussed.