The lesbian gay bisexual (LGB) community continues to face various forms of discrimination in daily life. Meyer’s (2003)
minority stress model and Hatzenbuehler’s (2009) psychological mediation framework suggest that societal oppression exposes
this community to persistent stressors, increasing awareness and sensitivity on discrimination and threat. This phenomenon
raises concerns regarding personal effects and potential harm, which may deteriorate the mental and physical health of LGB
individuals. Consequently, these individuals deliberately conceal their sexual orientation for self-protection, further internalizing
homophobia.
Throughout their development, LGB individuals often face rejection and neglect, which leads to rigid and irrational patterns
of interpersonal interactions. Such experiences also increase the rejection sensitivity of LGB individuals (Downey & Feldman,
1996), making them prone to perceiving others as harboring malicious intentions. This perception triggers intense emotional and
behavioral responses that negatively affect interpersonal relationships (Rohner, 2004). Furthermore, excessive self-monitoring,
heightened sensitivity to stigma, increased social anxiety, and fear of evaluation are prevalent in this community (Feinstein,
2020; Mendoza-Denton et al., 2002; Pachankis et al., 2008; Safren & Pantalone, 2006). Although rejection sensitivity can
prompt vigilance against threats, constant vigilance may obscure other safety signals, thereby affecting the mental and emotional
health of LGB individuals (Romero-Canyas et al., 2010).
External pressure and high rejection sensitivity cause LGB individuals to fear criticism and judgment. In romantic
relationships, reluctance to disclose sexual orientation or acknowledge relationships may impair trust and commitment (Mohr
& Fassinger, 2006; Rostosky & Riggle, 2017). Moreover, the focus on external threats often leads to disproportionate negative
interactions and attitudes compared with the efforts invested (Feinstein et al., 2018; Li et al., 2021; Pepping et al., 2019).
Fear of abandonment or rejection in conflicts can result in self-silencing, emotional withdrawal, or intimate partner violence,
escalating disputes and undermining relationship adjustment (Norona & Welsh, 2016; Volz & Kerig, 2010). Because of their
high sensitivity to physiological responses and changes in romantic relationships, women may be more susceptible than men to
the negative effects of stress (Cao et al., 2017).
When stigmatized persistently, LGB individuals may develop an anticipatory expectation of rejection in social interactions.
This increases their rejection sensitivity, reducing their self-worth and emotional regulation abilities (Bungert et al., 2015;
Göncü & Sümer, 2011; Pachankis et al., 2015). In romantic relationships, high rejection sensitivity can exacerbate stress,
depression, and anxiety in the face of external discrimination, adversely affecting the relationship through spillover effects and
poor self-regulation abilities.
In this study, we tested the following hypotheses: H1: Perceived discrimination and rejection sensitivity in the LGB
community are significantly positively correlated; H2: Perceived discrimination in the LGB community has a significantly
negative correlation with relationship adjustment; H3: Rejection sensitivity in the LGB community has a significantly negative
correlation with relationship adjustment; and H4: Rejection sensitivity in the LGB community has a mediating effect between
perceived discrimination and relationship adjustment.
In this study, a survey conducted among Taiwanese LGB individuals (aged ≥ 20 years) who had been in same-sex
relationships for > 3 months yielded 293 valid responses. The study sample comprised 117 male individuals (101 gay and
16 bisexual) and 176 female individuals (92 lesbian and 84 bisexual). The mean age was 28.1 ± 5.53 years, and the average
relationship duration was 42.1 (men: 42.2; women: 42.0) months. The following instruments were used: A basic information
form, the Perceived Discrimination Scale, the Rejection Sensitivity Questionnaire, and the Dyadic Adjustment Scale. Given that
the Perceived Discrimination Scale was newly developed for this study and that the Rejection Sensitivity Questionnaire and
Dyadic Adjustment Scale had not been previously applied to the Taiwanese LGB community, we conducted preliminary tests,
item analyses, and reliability and validity assessments for these scales. All scales exhibited good reliability and validity.
This study yielded four main findings. First, the male participants more frequently experienced discrimination in daily
life than did the female participants. Furthermore, the female participants outperformed the male participants in relationship
adjustment. This discrepancy is attributed to stricter societal expectations and greater scrutiny of gender expression in male
individuals than in female individuals; these factors contribute to elevated levels of perceived discrimination in male individuals
(Moskowitz et al., 2010). Regarding relationship adjustment, gender dynamics in romantic relationships yielded distinct
interaction patterns. Specifically, compared with the female participants, the male participants required more time to repair
relationships and tended to be more likely to withdraw or avoid conflict resolution behaviors (Khaddouma et al., 2015). This
explains the improved relationship adjustment among female same-sex couples.
Second, a positive correlation was noted between perceived discrimination and rejection sensitivity across genders. This
finding suggests that discrimination-related experiences are gradually integrated into individuals’ internal working models,
prompting individuals to activate their self-protective mechanisms in general interactions. This integration leads to heightened
anxiety and a predisposition to anticipate rejection, ultimately increasing rejection sensitivity (Dyar et al., 2018).
Third, among the female participants, lower levels of perceived discrimination and rejection sensitivity were associated
with better relationship adjustment. However, no such association was noted among the male participants. This discrepancy
may be attributable to female individuals’ increased sensitivity to changes in romantic relationships, their high susceptibility to
stress on mental and physical well-being, and their tendency to exhibit self-silence or withdrawal behaviors, which can make
relationships challenging to maintain and negatively affect relationship adjustment (Richter & Schoebi, 2021). The correlations
between perceived discrimination, rejection sensitivity, and relationship adjustment may vary depending on factors such as
between-partner trust levels, relationship patterns, attitudes toward relationships, and conflict resolution strategies (Ayduk et al.,
2008, as cited in Romero-Canyas et al., 2010; Daoultzis & Kordoutis, 2023; Kamen et al., 2011; Song et al., 2022).
Finally, in the female participants, rejection sensitivity mediated the correlation between perceived discrimination and
relationship adjustment. This mediation effect was not observed in the male participants. This discrepancy may be attributable
to the dual pressures of heterosexual dominance and patriarchy, which can make female LGB individuals, particularly those
with high levels of rejection sensitivity, feel undervalued. In cases involving rejection or conflict, female LGB individuals may
resort to silent endurance or sacrifice and be reluctant to express themselves, complicating communication and interaction and
compromising relationship quality (Szymanski et al., 2016; Trettin et al., 2006). Although we did not investigate discrimination
experiences in individuals stratified by gender, the effect of heteronormativity on the LGB community is apparent. The
detrimental effect of patriarchy on female LGB individuals warrants further investigation.
This study has several limitations. For example, we could not assess the experiences of LGB individuals who conceal their
sexual orientation because of a fear of discrimination. Furthermore, life experiences of LGB individuals, states of interaction, or
internalization of homophobia may influence evaluations and attitudes of individuals in romantic relationships. Therefore, future
studies should include dyadic analyses to clarify the interaction processes and factors influencing same-sex relationships.
In conclusion, practitioners working with the LGB community should incorporate rejection sensitivity into their frameworks
in counseling and education. This integration may help comprehend the community’s heightened vigilance toward external stimuli and support LGB individuals in recognizing societal oppression. Furthermore, an environment that celebrates diversity
should be created for these individuals. Achieving this goal necessitates concerted societal efforts.
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Mediating Effect of Rejection Sensitivity on the Relationship between Perceived Discrimination and Relationship Adjustment of Same-Sex Couples
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