Social Support, Identity Affirmation, and Psychological Well-Being: A Developmental and Intersectional Comparison between Italian Cisgender and Non-Binary People with Bisexual Orientation

Cristiano Scandurra, Concetta Esposito, Francesco Fantacci, Lorenzo Borrello, Vincenzo Bochicchio, Daniel Giunti and Paolo Antonelli ()
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Cristiano Scandurra: Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Sciences, and Dentistry, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy
Concetta Esposito: Department of Humanistic Studies, University of Naples Federico II, 80133 Naples, Italy
Francesco Fantacci: Centro Integrato di Sessuologia Clinica Il Ponte, 50136 Florence, Italy
Lorenzo Borrello: Centro Integrato di Sessuologia Clinica Il Ponte, 50136 Florence, Italy
Vincenzo Bochicchio: Department of Humanistic Studies, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy
Daniel Giunti: Centro Integrato di Sessuologia Clinica Il Ponte, 50136 Florence, Italy
Paolo Antonelli: Centro Integrato di Sessuologia Clinica Il Ponte, 50136 Florence, Italy

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 4, 1-16

Abstract: Incorporating the perspectives of positive psychology, intersectionality, and life course into minority stress theory, this study aimed to examine the relationships between social support, identity affirmation, and psychological well-being among 483 Italian individuals with bisexual orientation, accounting for differences in gender identity (cisgender vs. non-binary) and age groups (young, early, and middle adult). A mediation model was tested in which identity affirmation served as a presumed mediator between social support and psychological well-being. We also examined whether gender identity and age group moderated the hypothesized associations. Multivariate ANOVA and multigroup mediation analyses were conducted. Results showed that (a) cisgender individuals had higher social support and psychological well-being than non-binary individuals, but not identity affirmation, which was higher in the latter group, (b) psychological well-being, but not social support and identity affirmation, differed between groups, with the youngest cohort reporting worse health than their elders, (c) identity affirmation mediated the relationship between social support and psychological well-being, (d) mediation was significant only in binary individuals (compared to cisgender), whereas no age differences were found. Overall, this study highlights the need to consider bisexual individuals as a nonhomogeneous population living multiple life experiences, especially when minority identities intersect.

Keywords: bisexual; minority stress; positive psychology; intersectionality; life course; social support; identity affirmation; well-being; health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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