Degree Name
MA (Master of Arts)
Program
Psychology
Date of Award
5-2025
Committee Chair or Co-Chairs
Stacey Williams
Committee Members
Ginette Blackhart, Julia Dodd
Abstract
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) minority stress theory states that LGBTQ people experience stressors specific to their identity that result in negative mental health outcomes. Social support has been shown to protect against these negative outcomes, but South Central Appalachia is known to be high stigma and low resource for this population. The present study examined the potential moderating impact of four sources of social support (family, friends, partners, and pets) on the relationship between minority stress experiences and psychological distress for LGBTQ people living in South Central Appalachia. Participants included 116 LGBTQ adults living in South Central Appalachia who completed survey-based self-report measures. A series of moderated linear regression models were utilized, and results indicated that there was no moderating effect by any support sources tested. Possible explanations are addressed, and further research is needed to investigate the role of social support in this population.
Document Type
Thesis - unrestricted
Recommended Citation
Henry, Paige, "The Moderating Role of Social Support for LGBTQ People in South Central Appalachia: Present Yet Unimpactful?" (2025). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 4521. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/4521
Copyright
Copyright by the authors.