Ricerc@Sapienza

The present study, using a moderated mediational model, explored levels of distal/proximal stressors, rumination, resilience, and
health in a group of Italian and Taiwanese LGB+ people. The study also examined the role of internalized sexual stigma (ISS) and
rumination as mediators between discrimination and health, and resilience as a moderator of the relationship between discrimination
and ISS, rumination, and health, respectively. An online survey was administered to 508 LGB+ participants (270 Italian
and 238 Taiwanese) whose age ranged from 18 to 70 years (M= 37.93, SD = 13.53). The moderated mediation model was tested
through a series of path analyses stratified by group nationality. Italian participants reported higher discrimination and resilience,
but lower ISS, rumination, and health problems compared to their Taiwanese counterparts. The only common path between
groups was the direct effect of discrimination on health problems. The mediating role of ISS and rumination in the relationship
between discrimination and health, as well as the moderating role of resilience, were partly significant only for the Italian group.
Conclusions: The findings suggest that mediators and moderators used to evaluate the effects of minority stress on health may
differ between groups; further culturally sensitive research in the field of LGB+ health is needed.