The impact of mindfulness on self-stigma and affective symptoms among sexual minorities
Abstract
Background Research shows that mindfulness may enable sexual minorities to resist stigma and reduce distress. Less is known, however, about the underlying processes. The present study addressed this gap in the literature by examining how mindfulness would mitigate self-stigma and, in turn, alleviate affective symptoms among lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals. Methods A total of 401 LGB individuals from Hong Kong, China, provided cross-sectional questionnaire data on mindfulness, positive reappraisal, negative rumination, self-stigma content, self-stigma process, disempowerment, depressive symptoms, and anxiety symptoms. Structural equation modeling and Bootstrap analyses were conducted to analyze the relations among the variables. Results Structural equation modeling showed that mindfulness was associated with increased positive reappraisal and reduced negative rumination, which were, in turn, associated with lower levels of self-stigma content and process, respectively. Moreover, lower levels of self-stigma content and process were associated with a reduced sense of disempowerment, which was, in turn, associated with lower levels of depressive and anxiety symptoms. Bootstrap analyses further demonstrated that mindfulness had significant indirect effects on depressive and anxiety symptoms via positive reappraisal, self-stigma content, and disempowerment and via negative rumination, self-stigma process, and disempowerment. Conclusions Theoretically, this study reveal…
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Existing evidence-based techniques adapted for use with gender minority populations hold different efficacies dependent on cultural considerations.
“Existing, evidence-based techniques which have been adapted for use with gender minority populations are shown to hold different efficacies dependent on cultural considerations, and researchers have long called for culturally-specific interventions for a variety of populations (Chan & Leung, Citation2021; Meyer & Zane, Citation2013; Sue & Sue, Citation1999).”
From Proposed Self-as-Context Interventions for Gender Minority Clients (2025) · cites this paper as Chan & Leung, 2021
Researchers have long called for culturally-specific interventions for a variety of populations.
“Existing, evidence-based techniques which have been adapted for use with gender minority populations are shown to hold different efficacies dependent on cultural considerations, and researchers have long called for culturally-specific interventions for a variety of populations (Chan & Leung, Citation2021; Meyer & Zane, Citation2013; Sue & Sue, Citation1999).”
From Proposed Self-as-Context Interventions for Gender Minority Clients (2025) · cites this paper as Chan & Leung, 2021
Mindfulness has been shown to improve mental health outcomes for a variety of populations, including those facing systemic stigma.
“Research shows that mindfulness, the process of paying attention with awareness and attentiveness to the immediate experience in a nonjudgmental way,12,13 improves mental health outcomes for a variety of populations, including those facing systemic stigma.14–20”
From Mindfulness, Mental Health, and Violence Exposure Among Transgender Female Sex Workers Living with HIV in the Dominican Republic. (2026) · cites this paper as [20]
Through mindfulness-based interventions, changes can occur regarding emotion regulation, attention control, acceptance, self-referential processing, positive reappraisal, and self-awareness, which may interrupt the pathway from stigma and stress to mental illness.
“Through mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs), changes can occur regarding emotion regulation, attention control, acceptance, self-referential processing, positive reappraisal, and self-awareness, which may interrupt the pathway from stigma and stress to mental illness.16,20–22”
From Mindfulness, Mental Health, and Violence Exposure Among Transgender Female Sex Workers Living with HIV in the Dominican Republic. (2026) · cites this paper as [20]
A bidirectional relationship exists between shame and mindfulness.
“It is also important to note the bidirectional relationship that exists between shame and mindfulness”
From Mindfulness, Mental Health, and Violence Exposure Among Transgender Female Sex Workers Living with HIV in the Dominican Republic. (2026) · cites this paper as [20]
It is possible that violence exposure reduces the ability to engage in mindfulness and therefore leads to higher levels of shame.
“it is also possible that the violence exposure reduces the ability to engage in mindfulness and therefore leads to higher levels of shame.20,49”
From Mindfulness, Mental Health, and Violence Exposure Among Transgender Female Sex Workers Living with HIV in the Dominican Republic. (2026) · cites this paper as [20]
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References 66 · Cited by 34
- Authors
- Chan, K. K. S., & Leung, D. C. K.
- Affiliations
- Education University of Hong Kong (HK)
- Corresponding author
- Chan, Kevin Ka Shing
- Venue
- Journal of Affective Disorders
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2021-05
- Volume
- 286
- Pages
- 213-219
- ISSN
- 0165-0327 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W3134671763
- Cited by
- 34
- References
- 66
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 3
- FWCI
- 5.39
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- Locations
- Journal of Affective Disorders (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- The Education University of Hong Kong
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › LGBTQ Health, Identity, and Policy
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Keywords
- mindfulness, self-stigma, sexual minorities, lesbian, gay, and bisexual people, affective symptoms, depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, positive reappraisal, negative rumination, disempowerment, stigma resistance, emotional distress
- MeSH terms
- Sexual and Gender Minorities, Affective Symptoms, China, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Hong Kong, Humans, Mindfulness
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