Internalized Homonegativity and Demoralization Syndrome in Chinese Gay Men: The Mediating Role of Sexual Orientation Concealment and Sense of Self

Chinese gay men face substantial stress, such as internalized homonegativity, and may have high levels of demoralization syndrome. However, few studies have examined the relationship between the two. This study aimed to investigate the relationship and the mediating mechanism between internalized homonegativity and demoralization syndrome in Chinese gay men.

From March to May 2022, 319 Chinese gay men were recruited nationwide through the Internet (mean age = 23.99, SD = 4.23). The researchers used the internalized homonegativity scale, the sexual orientation concealment scale, the sense of self scale, and the short version of the demoralization scale for the measurements.

Sense of self plays a mediating role between internalized homonegativity and demoralization (standardized estimate = 0.104, 95% CI [0.004, 0.205]). Sexual orientation concealment and sense of self play a sequential mediating role between internalized homonegativity and demoralization (standardized estimate = 0.178, 95% CI [0.113, 0.258]). Internalized homonegativity contributes to increased demoralization among gay men through the increment of sexual orientation concealment and the reduction of sense of self.

Internalized homonegativity may be a risk factor for demoralization syndrome among Chinese gay men. Internalized homonegativity is associated with increased demoralization syndrome through increased sexual orientation concealment and decreased sense of self.

Policymakers can formulate some corresponding laws, such as ensuring that sexual minorities are treated equally with heterosexuals in terms of studying and finding jobs in order to reduce the sources of internalized homonegativity formation and the symptoms of demoralization syndrome.