A Longitudinal Investigation of Mechanisms in the Mental and Physical Health Effects of Discrimination on Sexual Minority Women

ABSTRACT Because the majority of existing literature examining mental health outcomes in sexual minority individuals has focused on men, the present study examined mechanisms in mental health disparities among sexual minority women. These analyses were based on the 200 sexual minority women (71.5% white) who completed an online survey at two time points, 6 months apart (August, 2024 and February, 2025). The online survey included measures of discrimination, group‐specific processes, general psychological mechanisms, and mental and physical health. The indirect associations between discrimination and depression symptoms ( ab = 0.06, 95% CI [0.012, 0.106]), PTSD symptoms ( ab = 0.07, 95% CI [0.023, 0.131]) and physical health difficulties ( ab = 0.04, 95% CI [0.007, 0.084]) via maladaptive coping were significant. The indirect association between discrimination and depression symptoms via adaptive coping was also significant ( ab = − 0.02, 95% CI [−0.050, −0.001]). No indirect associations were supported for group‐specific mechanisms. The results are presented in the context of empirical and clinical implications.