Sexual Orientation-Based Victimization and Internalized Homonegativity among Latinx Sexual Minority Youth: Exploring the Moderating Effect of Social Support and School Level

Abstract

Latinx sexual minority youth (SMY) experience sexual orientation-based victimization at school and may internalize these homophobic experiences. At the same time, the minority stress model posits sexual minority individuals may benefit from social support. Thus, the current study explored associations between sexual orientation-based victimization and internalized homonegativity across social contexts (family, peer, and school adult) and across development (high school versus college) among 233 Latinx SMY. Results showed that sexual orientation-based victimization was positively associated with internalized homonegativity among Latinx SMY. Such associations were moderated by perceived family support and the school level in the family context such that in high school, perceived family support exacerbated associations between sexual orientation-based victimization and internalized homonegativity, but in college, it mitigated that association. Similarly, findings also showed perceived peer support exacerbated the associations between sexual orientation-based victimization and internalized homonegativity. There was no moderating effect of perceived school adult support in the associations between sexual orientation-based victimization and internalized homonegativity. These findings contribute empirical evidence regarding the minority stress model among Latinx SMY and highlighted the potential complex effect of social support across social contexts and development.