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Review
. 2023 Jun:51:101579.
doi: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2023.101579. Epub 2023 Apr 6.

Minority stress theory: Application, critique, and continued relevance

David M Frost  1 , Ilan H Meyer  2
Affiliations
Review

Minority stress theory: Application, critique, and continued relevance

David M Frost et al. Curr Opin Psychol. 2023 Jun.

Abstract

The minority stress model has been influential in guiding research on sexual and gender minority health and well-being in psychology and related social and health sciences. Minority stress has theoretical roots in psychology, sociology, public health, and social welfare. Meyer provided the first integrative articulation of minority stress in 2003 as an explanatory theory aimed at understanding the social, psychological, and structural factors accounting for mental health inequalities facing sexual minority populations. This article reviews developments in minority stress theory over the past two decades, focusing on critiques, applications, and reflections on its continued relevance in the context of rapidly changing social and policy contexts.

Keywords: Bisexual; Gay; Gender minority; Health; Lesbian; Sexual minority; Stress; Transgender; Well-being.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest Nothing to declared

Figures

Figure 1:
Figure 1:
The minority stress model (Meyer, 2003).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. National Academies of Sciences: Engineering, and medicine, understanding the well-being of LGBTQI+ populations. 2020, 10.17226/25877. - DOI

    1. Meyer IH: Prejudice, social stress, and mental health in lesbian, gay, and bisexual populations. Psychol Bull 2003, 129:674–697.

      First integrative review, meta-analysis, and integrative articulation of minority stress theory as an explanation for mental health inequalities faced by sexual minority individuals.

    1. Bockting W, Coleman E, Deutsch MB, Guillamon A, Meyer I, Meyer 3rd W, Reisner S, Sevelius J, Ettner R: Adult development and quality of life of transgender and gender nonconforming people. Curr Opin Endocrinol Diabetes Obes 2016, 23:188–197. - PMC - PubMed

    1. Hendricks ML, Testa RJ: A conceptual framework for clinical work with transgender and gender nonconforming clients: an adaptation of the Minority stress model. Prof Psychol Res Pract 2012, 43:460.

      Key extension of minority stress model to gender minority (e.g., transgender and non-binary gender) individuals.

    1. White Hughto JM, Reisner SL, Pachankis JE: Transgender stigma and health: a critical review of stigma determinants, mechanisms, and interventions. Soc Sci Med 2015, 147:222–231. - PMC - PubMed