Abstract
Two studies examine the system of social psychological factors that are associated with life satisfaction in ethnic and sexual minorities in the United Kingdom (UK), through the lenses of identity process theory and minority stress theory. In Study 1, cross-sectional survey data from 372 British Black and South Asian people were analyzed using linear multiple regression. Results showed that the proximal stressor of discrimination-related identity threat was negatively associated with life satisfaction and that the social connectedness variables of ethnic, religious, and British national identification were positively associated with life satisfaction. In Study 2, cross-sectional survey data from 295 lesbian, gay, and bisexual people, also analyzed using linear multiple regression, showed that the social connectedness variables of being in a romantic relationship and interpersonal support and the psychological variable of identity resilience were positively associated with life satisfaction. Findings suggest that interventions that enable minority group members to develop social connectedness with meaningful groups and significant others as well as feelings of identity resilience may enhance life satisfaction in the face of minority stressors.
Similar content being viewed by others
Data Availability
The data are available on Brighton Research Data, the University of Brighton’s data repository at the following link: https://researchdata.brighton.ac.uk/id/eprint/305
References
Atkinson, T., Liem, R., & Liem, J. H. (1986). The social costs of unemployment: Implications for social support. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 27(4), 317–331. https://doi.org/10.2307/2136947
Breakwell, G. M. (2015). Coping with threatened identities. Psychology Press.
Breakwell, G. M. (2021). Identity resilience: Its origins in identity processes and its role in coping with threat. Contemporary Social Science, 16(5), 573–588. https://doi.org/10.1080/21582041.2021.1999488
Breakwell, G. M., & Jaspal, R. (2022). Coming out, distress and identity threat in gay men in the UK. Sexuality Research and Social Policy, 19(3), 1166–1177. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13178-021-00608-4
Breakwell, G. M., Fino, E., & Jaspal, R. (2022). The Identity Resilience Index: Development and validation in two UK samples. Identity, 22(2), 166–182. https://doi.org/10.1080/15283488.2021.1957895
Brookings, J. B., & Bolton, B. (1988). Confirmatory factor analysis of the interpersonal support evaluation list. American Journal of Community Psychology, 16(1), 137–147. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00906076
Brooks, V. R. (1981). Minority stress and lesbian women. Lexington, Mass. : Lexington Books. http://archive.org/details/minoritystressle0000broo
Cinnirella, M. (1997). Towards a European identity? Interactions between the national and European social identities manifested by university students in Britain and Italy. British Journal of Social Psychology, 36(1), 19–31. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2044-8309.1997.tb01116.x
Cohen, S., Mermelstein, R., Kamarck, T., & Hoberman, H. M. (1985). Measuring the functional components of social support. In I. G. Sarason & B. R. Sarason (Eds.), Social support: Theory, research and applications (pp. 73–94). Springer Netherlands. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-5115-0_5
Diener, E., Emmons, R. A., Larsen, R. J., & Griffin, S. (1985). The Satisfaction With Life Scale. Journal of Personality Assessment, 49(1), 71–75. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327752jpa4901_13
Dimitrova, R., Johnson, D. J., & van de Vijver, F. J. R. (2018). Ethnic socialization, ethnic identity, life satisfaction and school achievement of Roma ethnic minority youth. Journal of Adolescence, 62, 175–183. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adolescence.2017.06.003
Domínguez-Fuentes, J. M., Hombrados-Mendieta, M. I., & GarcÍa-Leiva, P. (2012). Social support and life satisfaction among gay men in Spain. Journal of Homosexuality, 59(2), 241–255. https://doi.org/10.1080/00918369.2012.648879
Dulai, J., & Jaspal, R. (2024). Social causation of disease. In G. Ritzer, C. Rojek, & J. M. Ryan (Eds.), Wiley-Blackwell Encyclopedia of Sociology (Second Edition). Wiley-Blackwell.
Dulai, J., Salway, T., & Ablona, A. (2023). Strong community belonging moderates poor mental health in lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals living in Canada: An intersectional analysis of a national population-based survey. Canadian Journal of Public Health. https://doi.org/10.17269/s41997-023-00794-1
Ferrante, F. (2009). Education, aspirations and life satisfaction. Kyklos: International Review for Social Sciences, 62(4), 542–562. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.14676435.2009.00450.x
Frost, D. M., & Meyer, I. H. (2023). Minority stress theory: Application, critique, and continued relevance. Current Opinion in Psychology, 51, 101579. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2023.101579
Grün, C., Hauser, W., & Rhein, T. (2010). Is any job better than no job? Life satisfaction and re-employment. Journal of Labor Research, 31, 285–306. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12122-010-9093-2
Hackett, R. A., Ronaldson, A., Bhui, K., Steptoe, A., & Jackson, S. E. (2020). Racial discrimination and health: A prospective study of ethnic minorities in the United Kingdom. BMC Public Health, 20(1), 1652. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-09792-1
Haslam, C., Cruwys, T., Haslam, S., & Jetten, J. (2015). Social connectedness and health. In N. A. Pachana (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Geropsychology (p. 1–10). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-287-080-3_46-2
Huynh, Q.-L., Devos, T., & Goldberg, R. (2014). The role of ethnic and national identifications in perceived discrimination for Asian Americans: Toward a better understanding of the buffering effect of group identifications on psychological distress. Asian American Journal of Psychology, 5, 161–171. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0031601
Jaspal, R., & Breakwell, G. M. (2022). Identity resilience, social support and internalized homonegativity in gay men. Psychology and Sexuality, 13(5), 1270–1287. https://doi.org/10.1080/19419899.2021.2016916
Jaspal, R., & Lopes, B. (2021). Discrimination and mental health outcomes in British Black and South Asian people during the COVID-19 outbreak in the UK. Mental Health, Religion & Culture, 24(1), 80–96. https://doi.org/10.1080/13674676.2020.1871328
Jaspal, R., Lopes, B., & Wignall, L. (2020). The coping with identity threat scale: Development and validation in a university student sample. Identity, 20(4), 225–238. https://doi.org/10.1080/15283488.2020.1808469
Jaspal, R., da Silva Lopes, B. C., & Breakwell, G. M. (2021). British national identity and life satisfaction in ethnic minorities in the United Kingdom. National Identities, 23(5), 455–472. https://doi.org/10.1080/14608944.2020.1822793
Jaspal, R., Lopes, B., & Breakwell, G. M. (2023). Minority stressors, protective factors and mental health outcomes in lesbian, gay and bisexual people in the UK. Current Psychology, 42, 24918–24934. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-022-03631-9
Jose, P. E., Ryan, N., & Pryor, J. (2012). Does social connectedness promote a greater sense of well-being in adolescence over time? Journal of Research on Adolescence, 22(2), 235–251. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1532-7795.2012.00783.x
Khodabakhsh, S. (2022). Factors affecting life satisfaction of older adults in Asia: A systematic review. Journal of Happiness Studies, 23, 1289–1304. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-021-00433-x
Kim, G., Sellbom, M., & Ford, K. L. (2014). Race/ethnicity and measurement equivalence of the Everyday Discrimination Scale. Psychological Assessment, 26(3), 892. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0036431
Kirmanoğlu, H., & Başlevent, C. (2014). Life satisfaction of ethnic minority members: An examination of interactions with immigration, discrimination, and citizenship. Social Indicators Research, 116(1), 173–184. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-013-0276-0
Knies, G., Nandi, A., & Platt, L. (2016). Life satisfaction, ethnicity and neighbourhoods: Is there an effect of neighbourhood ethnic composition on life satisfaction? Social Science Research, 60, 110–124. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssresearch.2016.01.010
Kööts-Ausmees, L., & Realo, A. (2016). Life satisfaction among ethnic minorities in Europe. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 47(3), 457–478. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022022116628671
Krieger, N. (2014). Discrimination and health inequities. International Journal of Health Services, 44(4), 643–710. https://doi.org/10.2190/HS.44.4.b
Levin, J. S., Chatters, L. M., & Taylor, R. J. (1995). Religious effects on health status and life satisfaction among Black Americans. The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, 50B(3), S154–S163. https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/50B.3.S154
Lopes, B., & Jaspal, R. (2022). Identity processes and psychological wellbeing upon recall of a significant “coming out” experience in lesbian, gay and bisexual people. Journal of Homosexuality. https://doi.org/10.1080/00918369.2022.2111536
Meyer, I. H., & Frost, D. M. (2013). Minority stress and the health of sexual minorities. In C. J. Patterson & A. R. D’Augelli (Eds.), Handbook of psychology and sexual orientation (pp. 252–266). Oxford University Press.
Meyer, I. H., & Wilson, P. A. (2009). Sampling lesbian, gay, and bisexual populations. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 56(1), 23–31. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0014587
Michaels, C., Choi, N.-Y., Adams, E. M., & Hitter, T. L. (2019). Testing a new model of sexual minority stress to assess the roles of meaning in life and internalized heterosexism on stress-related growth and life satisfaction. Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity, 6, 204–216. https://doi.org/10.1037/sgd0000320
Mohr, J. J., & Kendra, M. S. (2011). Revision and extension of a multidimensional measure of sexual minority identity: The Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Identity Scale. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 58, 234–245. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0022858
Murtagh, N., Gatersleben, B., & Uzzell, D. (2012). Self-identity threat and resistance to change: Evidence from regular travel behaviour. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 32(4), 318–326. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2012.05.008
Novara, C., Moscato, G., Gomez-Jacinto, L., Hombrados-Mendieta, I., Varveri, L., Rochira, A., & Garro, M. (2021). Life satisfaction and psychological distress of African immigrants in Italy and Spain: The protective role of social support and sense of community. Journal of Immigrant and Refugee Studies. https://doi.org/10.1080/15562948.2021.1995923
Pavot, W., & Diener, E. (2008). The Satisfaction With Life Scale and the emerging construct of life satisfaction. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 3(2), 137–152. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760701756946
Phinney, J. S., & Ong, A. D. (2007). Conceptualization and measurement of ethnic identity: Current status and future directions. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 54, 271–281. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0167.54.3.271
Powdthavee, N., & Wooden, M. (2015). Life satisfaction and sexual minorities: Evidence from Australia and the United Kingdom. Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, 116, 107–126. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jebo.2015.04.012
Rajani, N. B., Skianis, V., & Filippidis, F. T. (2019). Association of environmental and sociodemographic factors with life satisfaction in 27 European countries. BMC Public Health, 19(1), 534. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-019-6886-y
Salinas-Jiménez, M. M., Artés, J., & Salinas-Jiménez, J. (2011). Education as a positional good: A life satisfaction approach. Social Indicators Research, 103, 409–426. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-010-9709-1
Sarno, E. L., Dyar, C., Newcomb, M. E., & Whitton, S. W. (2022). Relationship quality and mental health among sexual and gender minorities. Journal of Family PsychoLogy, 36(5), 770–779. https://doi.org/10.1037/fam0000944
Stavrova, O., & Luhmann, M. (2016). Social connectedness as a source and consequence of meaning in life. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 11(5), 470–479. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2015.1117127
Verme, P. (2011). Life satisfaction and income equality. Review of Income and Wealth, 57(1), 111–127. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-4991.2010.00420.x
Wardecker, B. M., Matsick, J. L., Graham-Engeland, J. E., & Almeida, D. M. (2019). Life satisfaction across adulthood in bisexual men and women: Findings from the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) Study. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 48(1), 291–303. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-018-1151-5
Wen, G., & Zheng, L. (2019). The influence of internalized homophobia on health-related quality of life and life satisfaction among gay and bisexual men in China. American Journal of Men’s Health, 13(4), 1557988319864775. https://doi.org/10.1177/1557988319864775
Williams, D. R., Yu, Y., Jackson, J. S., & Anderson, N. B. (1997). Racial differences in physical and mental health: Socio-economic status, stress and discrimination. Journal of Health Psychology, 2(3), 335–351. https://doi.org/10.1177/135910539700200305
Williams, D. R., Lawrence, J. A., Davis, B. A., & Vu, C. (2019). Understanding how discrimination can affect health. Health Services Research, 54(S2), 1374–1388. https://doi.org/10.1111/1475-6773.13222
Wright, D. (2023). Methodological considerations and assumptions in social science survey research. Journal of the British Academy, 11(s5). https://doi.org/10.5871/jba/011s5.000
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Contributions
Both authors contributed equally to the manuscript.
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Ethics Approval
Ethical approval was obtained from Nottingham Trent University’s Schools of Business, Law and Social Science Ethics Committee.
Consent to Participate
Participants received a detailed participant information sheet, an online consent form, and a full debrief after completing the study. They provided consent to participate and for the results to be published.
Competing Interests
The authors declare no competing interests.
Supplementary Information
Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.
Rights and permissions
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
About this article
Cite this article
Dulai, J., Jaspal, R. Social Connectedness and Identity Resilience Buffer Against Minority Stress and Enhance Life Satisfaction in Ethnic and Sexual Minorities in the UK. Trends in Psychol. (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43076-024-00375-2
Accepted:
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s43076-024-00375-2