The role of sexual minority stress and community involvement on disordered eating, dysmorphic concerns and appearance- and performance-enhancing drug misuse

Prior research has established that sexual minority (SM) individuals are more likely to experience disordered body image behaviors and concerns than heterosexual individuals. This increased risk may be explained by minority stress theory – that SM individuals are subject to SM-specific stressors, leading to health disparities – but this has not yet been fully examined. Furthermore, this theory states that SM community involvement may mitigate negative outcomes. The current study examines whether minority stress is associated with screening positive for an eating disorder, screening positive for body dysmorphic disorder, and appearance- and performance-enhancing drug misuse in a sample of SM individuals (483 women and 479 men) in the US. This study also examines whether the effect of minority stress is moderated by SM community involvement. Logistic regressions were conducted for each type of minority stress (internalized homophobia, sexual orientation concealment, and heterosexist discrimination) interacting with community involvement. After correction for multiple comparisons, all minority stressors and community involvement were positively associated with increased odds of disordered body image behaviors and concerns, with no evidence of a buffering effect for community involvement. The lack of a buffering effect is contrary to minority stress theory and may inform future prevention efforts.