title: Visual connection: the role of video-sharing sites in shaping minority stress experiences for LGB individuals in Hong Kong and Macau
Creators: name: Wu, Oscar
name: Wu, Ka U
Publisher: name: The University of Edinburgh
Year: 2025
Subjects: subject: minority stress
subject: attributional style
subject: negative attributional style
subject: use of LGBT video-sharing sites
subject: sexual minority
subject: social identity

description: INTRODUCTION: Sexual minority communities, particularly those identifying as lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB), encounter heightened minority stress (MS) that negatively impacts their mental health. In Chinese communities, these stressors are uniquely intensified by cultural norms, traditional values, and social expectations, leading to increased social stigma and familial pressure not as prevalent in Western contexts. Despite the potential of video-sharing sites (VSS) to alleviate MS, the specific challenges faced by LGB individuals in these environments necessitate targeted research to understand and mitigate their unique experiences effectively. BACKGROUND: Existing research establishes the buffering effect of social identity (SI) against stress and links a negative attributional style (NAS) with increased psychological distress. The nuanced impact of use of LGBT video-sharing sites (ULV) on MS, primarily through the interplay of SI and NAS, remains to be fully elucidated. This gap highlights the need for a focused investigation into the potential mediating roles of SI and NAS in the relationship between ULV and MS reduction. AIM AND MODEL DEVELOPMENT: This study aims to bridge this gap by investigating the mediating roles of SI and NAS in how ULV influences MS among LGB individuals. A robust literature review has developed a conceptual model that proposes that ULV influences MS through a serial mediation of SI and NAS. This model hypothesises that ULV can enhance SI, which subsequently reduces NAS, thereby lowering MS. METHODS: The study employed a quantitative research design, gathering data from 220 Hong Kong and Macau LGB individuals. Participants were surveyed on their ULV, experiences of MS, levels of SI, and NAS. The survey included measures such as the Minority Stress Scale, Social Identity Scale for LGB individuals, and a Negative Attributional Style questionnaire. Multiple regression analyses and Hayes’s process for testing mediation hypotheses were key statistical tests used to explore the relationships between ULV, MS, SI, and NAS. FINDINGS: Results indicated a significant negative correlation between ULV and MS, demonstrating that higher ULV is associated with lower levels of MS. The analysis suggested that SI and NAS may serve as mediators in this relationship, with SI identified as a crucial mediator. Specifically, the findings indicate that ULV is positively associated with SI, which in turn is negatively associated with NAS, potentially leading to a reduction in MS. The mediating effect of NAS was significant only when preceded by an enhancement in SI, highlighting the importance of strengthening SI for reducing MS. DISCUSSION: This study expands our understanding of the mechanisms through which LGBT VSS may support LGB individuals in mitigating MS. It emphasises the critical role of fostering SI and provides evidence for the serial mediation model developed from the literature review. The findings suggest that future research explore additional factors that may influence the ULV-MS relationship and consider the integration of LGBT VSS into mental health support strategies for the LGB community. CONCLUSION: By highlighting the potential of LGBT VSS in associating with reduced MS through the enhancement of SI and the subsequent reduction in NAS, this research underscores the importance of such platforms in supporting the mental health of LGB individuals. It calls for the adoption of inclusive mental health policies and the inclusion of VSS in outreach and support strategies, offering a comprehensive framework for future research and practice aimed at improving the wellbeing of sexual minorities.