ResearchPod Summary
This systematic review investigates the relationship between minority stress, emotional regulation, and emotion suppression among sexual and gender minority (LGBTQIA+) populations. Drawing on the Minority Stress Theory, the authors examine how the persistent experience of stigma, prejudice, and discrimination—rooted in heteronormative societal structures—impacts the psychological well-being of these individuals. By synthesizing empirical research, the study highlights how the necessity of navigating a hostile social environment leads to the adoption of faulty emotional regulation strategies.
The authors conducted a systematic review following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses) guidelines. They searched multiple databases, including Google Scholar, Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed, for peer-reviewed literature published between 1990 and 2022. After screening 589 initial articles, the authors selected 42 studies that met their inclusion criteria, focusing on the impact of minority stress on emotional regulation and the subsequent role of emotion suppression in mental health outcomes.
The analysis reveals that minority stress is a critical driver of emotional dysregulation. Because sexual and gender minorities frequently face social ostracization and the pressure to conform to heteronormative norms, they often resort to expressive suppression—the inhibition of outward emotional responses. This strategy, while perhaps serving as a survival mechanism in the short term, is linked to significant long-term negative outcomes. The review finds that chronic use of emotion suppression is strongly associated with increased instances of anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, and the adoption of health-risk behaviors such as alcohol and drug abuse. Ultimately, the study suggests that the constant need to hide or modulate one's authentic self to avoid stigma creates a cycle of emotional and mental distress.
Understanding these mechanisms is vital for clinicians and researchers working with marginalized communities. By identifying that emotion suppression is not merely an individual trait but a response to systemic minority stress, practitioners can better tailor interventions. The findings underscore the need for social and systemic change to reduce the burden of minority stress, as well as the importance of developing healthier, more adaptive emotional regulation strategies for LGBTQIA+ individuals.
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