The Moderation Effect of Social Support on the Relations Between Sexual Identity Ambiguity Distress and Internalizing Symptoms for Emerging Adults

The current study investigates the following research questions. First, is sexual identity ambiguity distress in emerging adults associated with higher internalizing symptoms? Second, does perceived social support reduce the association between sexual identity ambiguity distress and internalizing symptoms? Third, if so, does stress buffering differ by family vs. peer support? This research addresses several key gaps in prior literature. First, previous studies have assessed ambiguity of sexual identity (not distress about this ambiguity) and assumed it as a negative factor in identity formation. However, this potentially confounds sexual identity ambiguity distress with sexual identity fluidity (i.e., the capacity for situation-dependent flexibility in sexual responsiveness). Although fluidity also involves ambiguity, it does not necessarily have negative impacts in overall sexual identity formation in emerging adulthood as this flexibility is a part of an emerging adult’s sexual identity rather than a result of sexual identity ambiguity distress. Therefore, the current study asks directly if reported sexual identity ambiguity is distressing. Second, previous research has focused on the differences between emerging adults that are strictly heterosexual vs. LGBTQIA+ identified. Emerging adults experiencing sexual identity ambiguity distress do not fall clearly into a marginalized community or sexual identity category (heterosexual or sexual minority). However, this under-studied population of emerging adults may be impacted by stressors, social support interactions and mental health outcomes in similar ways to those in sexual minority emerging adults. The current study builds on the findings of prior studies investigating the close association of depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms and identity distress, as a foundation for investigating potentially similar associations between internalizing symptoms and sexual identity ambiguity distress.