Double hurt: The impact of interpersonal-level stigma on nonsuicidal self-injury among lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals

Lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals are at elevated risk of nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI). Consistent with the minority stress theory, interpersonal-level stigma has been identified as a risk factor for NSSI among western LGB individuals. It is unclear whether interpersonal-level stigma can increase the risk of NSSI among Chinese LGB individuals. Moreover, little is known about how interpersonal-level stigma increases the risk of NSSI. Based on the psychological mediation framework, the rejection sensitivity model, and several NSSI theories, the current study aims to examine a mediation model, exploring the mediating mechanisms and the subgroup differences underlying the relationship between interpersonal-level stigma and NSSI among Chinese LGB individuals. A total of 666 Chinese LGB individuals (64.0% males; mean age = 24.49 years, SD = 6.50) completed questionnaires of interpersonal-level stigma, rejection sensitivity, depression, anxiety, and NSSI. The results showed that interpersonal-level stigma was positively associated with NSSI. Interpersonal-level stigma did not affect NSSI through rejection sensitivity, but it affected NSSI through depression, anxiety, the serial mediation of rejection sensitivity and depression, and the serial mediation of rejection sensitivity and anxiety. Subgroup differences also existed in the hypothesized mediation model. The findings advance our understanding of how interpersonal-level stigma increases the risk of NSSI. Additionally, the findings highlight the need to de-stigmatize sexual orientation and could help develop effective prevention and intervention strategies targeting NSSI for LGB individuals.