Does self-compassion protect against stigma-related poor mental health outcomes for sexual and gender minority people?

Sexual and gender minority (SGM) people (e.g., lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and nonbinary people) experience numerous mental health disparities, such as higher rates of anxiety and depression, compared with their cisgender, heterosexual counterparts. These disparities exist, in part, because of stigma-related stress, which can stem from experiences of discrimination and anti-SGM violence. While work is being done at systemic levels (e.g., changing policies) to ensure protections and improve societal attitudes toward SGM people, it is important to concurrently identify coping resources that protect SGM people against the damaging mental health effects of stigma-related stress and promote resilience and well-being.

Self-compassion is a coping resource that has the potential to protect against stigma-related mental health concerns, but it had not yet been systematically investigated for SGM people. In a recent article published in Clinical Psychology: Science and Practiceopens in new window, Emily C. Helminen, Dallas M. Ducar, Jillian R. Scheer, Kari L. Parke, Melissa L. Morton, and Joshua C. Felver conducted the first review of the literature examining the evidence that self-compassion may be an effective coping resource for SGM people. The authors compiled the literature to date and computed overall associations between self-compassion and stigma-related stress and overall associations between self-compassion and mental health symptoms. They also completed a narrative synthesis of the studies that tested whether self-compassion protects against negative mental health symptoms in the face of stigma-related stress.

The authors found a moderate negative association between stigma-related stress and self-compassion, indicating that SGM people who report higher levels of stigma-related stress tend to report lower levels of self-compassion. They also found a large negative association between self-compassion and mental health symptoms, indicating that SGM people who report lower levels of self-compassion tend to report more mental health symptoms. Their narrative summary of the studies that examined all three constructs together (i.e., stigma-related stress, self-compassion, and mental health symptoms) provided evidence that self-compassion may act as a protective factor against stigma-related mental health concerns.

Findings from the first synthesis of self-compassion research among SGM people indicate that self-compassion is a promising potential coping resource that merits further investigation in SGM populations. The authors caution against making any definitive statements about self-compassion leading to better mental health among SGM people because the literature base is composed of only cross-sectional studies thus far, which means the authors can only confirm that self-compassion, stigma-related stress, and mental health are significantly associated with each other. The authors highlight the need for future longitudinal research that assesses self-compassion, minority stress, and mental health across several time points to provide evidence that self-compassion may lead to positive mental health outcomes for SGM people. In particular, future studies that implement self-compassion interventions (e.g., programs or therapies designed to increase participants’ self-compassion) with SGM people are needed.

This article is in the Clinical Psychology topic area.

Helminen, E. C., Ducar, D. M., Scheer, J. R., Parke, K. L., Morton, M. L., & Felver, J. C. (2023). Self-compassion, minority stress, and mental health in sexual and gender minority populations: A meta-analysis and systematic review. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 30(1), 26–39. https://doi.org/10.1037/cps0000104opens in new window

Emily C. Helminen, PhD, is a postdoctoral fellow at the Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies at Brown University. Their research focuses on how compassion-based interventions can improve mental and behavioral health among sexual and gender minority people, as well as on understanding the physiological and cognitive mechanisms by which compassion-based interventions are effective.

Dallas M. Ducar, MSN, RN, NP, CNL, FAAN, is a visionary health care leader and the CEO of Transhealth, an organization aimed at transforming health care. As a seasoned academic with roles at the University of Virginia School of Nursing, Columbia University, and the MGH Institute for Health Professions, she actively influences health policy with a focus on equity, ethics, and affirming care and advises political leaders on best practices. Beyond her professional roles, she is a dedicated public servant and advocate for gender-affirming health care who enjoys the outdoors and spending quality time with her family and dogs.

Jillian R. Scheer, PhD, is the Cobb-Jones Professor of Clinical Psychology and an assistant professor in the Department of Psychology at Syracuse University. Scheer’s research focuses on identifying and addressing biopsychosocial determinants of hazardous drinking and co-occurring mental health conditions among trauma-exposed sexual and gender minority people.

Melissa L. Morton, PhD, is a New York State–licensed psychologist in a private practice that provides evidence-based psychology services for children, adolescents, and adults experiencing stress and anxiety-related disorders. She concluded her postdoctoral training in clinical psychology at the University of Rochester Medical Center. Her research interests focus on the investigation of stress resilience through leveraging the mind–body connection via cost-effective mindfulness-based practices.

Kari L. Parke, MS, is a developmental engineer and program manager. Her interests focus on the research, development, and implementation of initiatives that help state and federal organizations achieve their strategic goals.

Joshua C. Felver, PhD, ABPP, is a research and extension faculty member at Cornell University and a licensed child and adolescent psychologist with specialist board certification in school psychology. His programmatic research focuses on developing, implementing, and exploring biomechanisms of mindfulness-based programs in school and community settings to address health disparities.