知覺歧視對同志伴侶關係適應的影響：拒絕敏感度的中介效果

Mediating Effect of Rejection Sensitivity on the Correlation between Perceived Discrimination and Relationship Adjustment in Same-Sex Couples

本研究旨在了解知覺歧視對同志族群伴侶關係的影響，以及拒絕敏感度在其中是否具有中介的效果。本研究以目前處於同性伴侶關係且年滿20歲的293位（117位男性、176位女性）同志族群為研究對象，透過網路問卷的方式蒐集資料。研究結果如下：1.男性同志族群的知覺歧視與拒絕敏感度分數上比女性高，但關係適應分數則比女性低；2.不論性別，知覺歧視與拒絕敏感度間均為顯著正相關，而知覺歧視與關係適應，以及拒絕敏感度與關係適應之間，僅在女性方面呈現顯著負相關，男性則未達顯著相關；3.女性的拒絕敏感度在知覺歧視與伴侶關係適應間具有完全中介效果，男性則不具有中介效果。根據研究結果，可以發現同志族群的知覺歧視經驗，會影響他們的人際互動模式，而在女性方面則可能會進而損害伴侶關係，亦即外在環境的壓迫可能會滲入傷害個體的私生活。因此在協助同志族群時，需敏感於社會文化造成的壓迫對他們人際互動上的影響，尤其女性方面，更需敏覺於歧視經驗對伴侶關係的損害。

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: H_1: Perceived discrimination and rejection sensitivity in the LGB community are significantly positively correlated; H_2: Perceived discrimination in the LGB community has a significantly negative correlation with relationship adjustment; H_3: Rejection sensitivity in the LGB community has a significantly negative correlation with relationship adjustment; and H_4: 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.