Minority Stress

This entry describes the unique stressors that sexual and gender minorities experience as a result of their stigmatized social status. It provides a conceptual overview of minority stress theory; describes specific minority stressors; and introduces extensions of minority stress theory to the areas of physical health, interpersonal relationships, and structural stigma. This entry focuses predominantly on experiences of minority stress among lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals, but the application of minority stress theory to gender minorities (e.g., transgender individuals) will also be discussed. Readers are encouraged to consult the specific entries in this volume on gender minorities for more nuanced discussions of the unique stressors that they experience.