Intersectional belonging and the social cure
Identity centrality as a pathway to well-being for Black LGBTQ+ adults
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 19227366 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Keith J Watts (0000-0002-2086-272X, University of Kentucky, corresponding author), Shawndaya Thrasher (0000-0002-2870-4056, Louisiana State University), M Alex Wagaman (0000-0001-7727-2547, Virginia Commonwealth University), Julian K Glover (Virginia Commonwealth University), D Griffin (0009-0005-2462-6010, Louisiana State University) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Pages | 1-26 |
| Publication date | 2026-06-04 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Psychology and Sexuality (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1941-9902 • E-ISSN: 1941-9899 |
| Publisher | Taylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/19419899.2026.2681632 |
| OpenAlex | W7163567723 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 56 |
Black LGBTQ+ adults navigate a unique social location characterised by synergistic stressors, yet the specific psychological mechanisms that translate community resources into resilience remain under-theorised. Grounded in the Social Cure framework and Intersectionality Theory, this study examined whether identity centrality mediates the relationship between Black LGBTQ+ community belongingness and subjective well-being. A cross-sectional survey was administered to a U.S.-based sample of Black LGBTQ+ adults (N = 345). Black LGBTQ+ community belongingness was significantly and positively associated with subjective well-being, and identity centrality emerged as a significant indirect pathway indicating that belongingness supports well-being by reinforcing the centrality of the intersectional identity to the self-concept. A parallel mediation model further clarified that this protective pathway operates through identity consolidation rather than through reduced exposure to intersectional microaggressions, distinguishing identity-based mechanisms from stress-reduction mechanisms. Intersectional microaggressions, and both suburban and urban residence, were negatively associated with well-being, while older age was a positive predictor. The findings support the Social Cure hypothesis and suggest that identity centrality functions as a protective anchor that must be nurtured within affirming contexts to buffer against intersectional stigma
Belongingness · Centrality · Identity (music) · Intersectionality · Mediation · Minority stress · Social identity theory · Social network (sociolinguistics) · LGBTQ Health, Identity, and Policy · Racial and Ethnic Identity Research · Social and Intergroup Psychology
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| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |