Minority Stress and TV Viewing Behaviors among Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Adults

A burgeoning body of research has examined the ways in which lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals consume LGB-inclusive media. Despite growing focus on this topic, no studies have explored the role of minority stress in the media consumption process among LGB adults. The present study examined the relationships between minority stressors and TV consumption behaviors (i.e., parasocial relationships and viewing frequency) among adult LGB TV viewers. Participants (N = 340) identified predominately as White (52.9%) and female (72.1%), and the largest group identified as bisexual (44.4%). Participants completed self-report measures of prejudice events (Heterosexist Harassment, Rejection, and Discrimination Scale), concealment (Sexual Orientation Concealment Scale), internalized homonegativity (Internalized Homonegativity Scale), social support (Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support), LGB community connectedness (Connectedness to the LGBT Community Scale), loneliness (UCLA Loneliness Scale), viewing frequency (LGB-Inclusive Consumption Questionnaire), parasocial relationships (Revised Parasocial Interaction Scale), and depression, anxiety, and stress (Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21). Seven multiple regressions were conducted to examine the interrelationships among these variables. Findings revealed that concealment (β = .30, p < .001), and community connectedness (β = .23, p < .001) were significantly associated with parasocial relationships. Additionally, perceived social support moderated the effect of prejudice events on viewing frequency (β = -.12, p < .05). Sexual minority viewers who reported high levels of prejudice events and low levels of perceived social support endorsed the highest levels of viewing frequency of LGB-inclusive shows. Moreover, loneliness significantly mediated the relationship between prejudice events and viewing frequency [CI = -3.90, -.26], as well as the relationship between concealment and viewing frequency [CI = -3.50, -.19]. This line of inquiry clarifies the nuanced ways in which LGB individuals consume media content, and may be informative for clinicians in understanding coping strategies for minority stress among LGB clients.

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy

Level thesis:degree_level

Doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Counseling Psychology

Grantor

University of Houston

Year dc:date.issued

2018

Author dc:creator

• Winderman, Katherine

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Smith, Nathan Grant

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Coleman, M. Nicole
• Schick, Vanessa R.
• Reitzel, Lorraine R.

• Sexual minorities
• Lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB)
• TV viewing
• Parasocial relationships
• Minority stress

Statement dc:rights

• The author of this work is the copyright owner. UH Libraries and the Texas Digital Library have their permission to store and provide access to this work. Further transmission, reproduction, or presentation of this work is prohibited except with permission of the author(s).

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10657/3413

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:uh-ir.tdl.org:10657/3413