The Moderating Role of Mental Health on the Relationship between Community Belongingness and Well-Being Among Black LGBTQ+ Adults

Background and Purpose:Mental health is a significant public health concern within the LGBTQ+ population. Further, the intersectional, compounded impact of racial, sexual, and gender minority stigma, prejudice, and discrimination expose Black LGBTQ+ individuals to increased risk of negative mental health and well-being outcomes. While belongingness to identity-based communities has been positively associated with these outcomes, little research has examined the interactive effects of mental health and well-being relative to community belongingness among this population. Research suggests that the benefits of community belongingness for well-being may depend upon the severity of mental health symptomology (e.g., anxiety and depression). The current study examined whether the association between community belongingness and well-being is moderated by mental health symptomology.

Methods:Data and Sample: The data was drawn from a mixed-methods online survey of Black LGBTQ+ adults ages 18 to 64 (n=345) in the United States, which focused on participants’ belongingness to identity-based minority communities, mental health, and well-being.

Measures:Total Community belongingness (CB) was measured as a composite score of three subscales (α=0.838) – Black Community Belongingness (α=.828), LGBTQ Community Belongingness (α=.815), and Black LGBTQ Community Belongingness (α=.861) – each with nine items adapted from the Transgender Community Belongingness Scale assessing participants’ connection to these identity-based communities. Mental health (MH) was measured using the 25-item Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25, which assesses symptoms of depression and anxiety within the past two weeks (α=.927). Higher scores indicated more mental health symptoms (M=54.68). Using this scale, we created a binary variable indicating those who are above the average mental health score (lower MH < 54.68 and higher MH > 54.68). Well-being (WB) was measured using the 14-item Mental Health Continuum—Short Form, which assesses participants’ subjective well-being over the past two weeks (α=.893). Age, gender identity, sexual orientation, income, education, employment, and student status were included as covariates in the multivariate linear regression analysis (MLR).

Results:T-test results revealed that Black LGBTQ+ individuals with worse MH symptoms had a higher sense of CB compared to those with greater MH symptoms (t=-6.456,p-value=<.001). MLR revealed a statistically significant association between CB and WB (B=0.258,p-value=<.001). However, MH was not associated with WB (B=0.045,p-value=0.893), nor did MH moderate the association between CB and WB (B=-0.343,p-value=0.289).

Conclusions and Implications:Study findings conclude that Black LGBTQ+ individuals with more mental health symptoms have a higher sense of belongingness and community belongingness increased well-being. Further findings suggest the positive effects of community belongingness on well-being persist even in the presence of mental health symptoms. Social workers and mental health practitioners should assess for belongingness when addressing mental health and well-being concerns and include community resources and support groups (i.e., peer, educational) specific to the needs of Black LGBTQ+ individuals. Policies should also seek to expand mental health education, services, and resources for (and education on community belongingness), in additional to social spaces that could (potentially) create opportunities for community among Black LGBTQ+ individuals. Implications for social work practice and education and future research are discussed.