Minority stress and mental health outcomes among lesbians, gay men, and bisexual men and women in Croatia

The study investigates the association between minority stress and various mental health outcomes of lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals in Croatia. The study also explores the moderating roles of gender and sexual orientation in association between minority stress and mental health outcomes. A total of 1403 cisgender LGB participants (65.9% identifying as women and 57.1% as gay) were surveyed online in May 2022. The questionnaire included the Minority Stress Scale, Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21), Suicidal Ideations and Attempts Questionnaire, The CAGE questionnaire for alcohol and drug abuse, and the Questionnaire of Mental Health Continuum-Short Form (MHC-SF) for wellbeing. Structural equation modeling results indicated significant associations between minority stress and various mental health outcomes of LGB individuals. Specifically, minority stress was significantly associated with higher levels of depression, anxiety, stress, and suicidal ideations and attempts. It also predicted lower emotional, social, and psychological well-being. However, no significant association was found between minority stress and substance. Gender did not significantly moderate the relationship between minority stress and mental health outcomes, while sexual orientation did. The association between minority stress and anxiety symptoms was more severe among bisexual individuals compared to gay individuals. The study highlights the importance of addressing minority stress and the development of targeted support interventions aimed at improving the mental health outcomes of the LGB individuals in Croatia.