On the nonlinear link between stigma and collective action

Evidence from sexual and gender minorities in 25 countries

Bibliographic Data

ID6426657
AuthorsHema Preya Selvanathan (0000-0002-6917-0951, The University of Queensland, corresponding author), Daniel Valdenegro (0000-0003-3695-0123, University of Oxford), Masi Noor (0000-0002-4955-6793, Keele University), Emilio Paolo Visintin (0000-0003-2250-3533, University of Ferrara), Fanny Lalot (0000-0002-1237-5585, University of Basel), Mario Sainz (0000-0002-2048-5872, Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia), M Bilewicz (0000-0001-5027-1691, University of Warsaw), Lydia E Hayward (0000-0002-1775-3346, The University of Queensland), Simone Sebben (0000-0002-8524-9790, University of Zurich), Johannes Ullrich (0000-0002-0471-7004, University of Zurich), Tabea Hässler (0000-0002-9371-2423, University of Zurich)
Year2025
Volume28
Issue4
Pages752-773
Publication date2025-01-30
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueGroup Processes & Intergroup Relations (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1368-4302 • E-ISSN: 1461-7188
PublisherSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/13684302241309539
OpenAlexW4407046477
LanguageEN
Citations received4
References cited78

The stigma faced by gender and sexual minorities varies across countries. How does stigma relate to collective action for social change? We propose a curvilinear link (i.e., an inverted U-curve) between stigma and collective action such that increased stigma is associated with increased collective action up to a point, beyond which, increased stigma is associated with reduced collective action. Using Bayesian inference with a sample of over 3,000 lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and queer (LGBTIQ+) individuals across 25 countries, analyses showed that at the between-country level (but not at the within-country level), there was preliminary evidence of a curvilinear effect. There was also an indirect effect of institutional stigma on collective action outcomes via perceived stigma, suggesting that structural-level factors can trickle down to shape individuals’ social change intentions and behaviours. These findings raise the importance of reconsidering the assumption of linearity between stigma and collective action

Collective action · Homosexuality · Lesbian · Political science · Politics · Sexual minority · Sexual orientation · Social stigma · Stigma (botany · Transgender · LGBTQ Health, Identity, and Policy · Psychology · Social and Cultural Dynamics · Social and Intergroup Psychology · Social Psychology

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