Abstract
Introduction
Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a highly prevalent and serious public health concern among Chinese LGB (lesbian, gay, and bisexual) populations, and a variety of cognitive and affective factors caused by sexual minority stress is influential in the development of NSSI. This study tested a chain mediating model to examine the roles of negative body image (i.e., a cognitive factor) and anxiety (i.e., an emotional factor) in the relationship between maladaptive perfectionism and NSSI. Potential gender differences on these associations were also tested.
Methods
A total of 682 Chinese LGB individuals (57.8% gay men, 6.0% bisexual men, 16.0% lesbian women, and 20.2% bisexual women; mean age = 24.4 years, SD = 6.5) from across the country participated in this study in August 2020. They completed self-report measures of maladaptive perfectionism, negative body image, anxiety, and NSSI.
Results
There were significant positive correlations among maladaptive perfectionism, negative body image, anxiety, and NSSI in Chinese LGB populations. In the chain mediation analyses, maladaptive perfectionism was indirectly related to NSSI via negative body image and anxiety. In addition, negative body image was related to anxiety only in gay males, but not in sexual minority females, and anxiety was related to NSSI more strongly in sexual minority females than in gay males.
Conclusions
Findings of the study contribute to our understanding of the mechanisms of NSSI in Chinese sexual minorities. Maladaptive perfectionism was related to NSSI through negative body image and anxiety. Gender differences were noteworthy.
Policy Implications
Psychological education regarding proper body image expectations may be necessary for LGB populations, and clinicians may pay special attention to gender differences when addressing related mental health problems of LGB individuals in China.
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Data Availability
The datasets generated and/or analyzed during the current study are not publicly available but are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
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Acknowledgements
This study was supported by the Research Center for Crisis Intervention and Psychological Service of Guangdong Province, South China Normal University, and the base of psychological services and counseling for “Happiness” in Guangzhou. In addition, the authors are grateful to the Beijing LGBT Center for the help with the data collection of this paper.
Funding
This research was funded in part by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 31771228), the National Social Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 19ZDA360), and the Special Funds for the Cultivation of Guangdong College Students’ Scientific and Technological Innovation (“Climbing Program” Special Funds) (Grant No. pdjh2021b0145). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, or preparation of the manuscript.
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Jiefeng Ying conceived of the study, performed the statistical analysis, and drafted the manuscript; Sihan Liu and Danrui Chen participated in the design of the study, and helped revise the manuscript; Ziyan Xu and Qianqian Gao managed the literature searches and helped revise the manuscript; Jianing You participated in the design of the study and helped revise the manuscript. All authors contributed to and have approved the final manuscript.
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Ying, J., Liu, S., Chen, D. et al. Gender Differences in the Relationship Between Maladaptive Perfectionism, Negative Body Image, Anxiety, and Nonsuicidal Self-Injury in Chinese Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Populations. Sex Res Soc Policy 19, 2024–2036 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13178-022-00755-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13178-022-00755-2