Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Stigmatization is believed to contribute to health disparities experienced by lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) adults. However, few studies have examined how stigma shapes the perception and response to daily stress by sexual orientation grouping, an important potential mechanism by which stigma impacts health. This study examined responses of daily stress and well-being by sexual orientation. METHOD: Lesbian/gay (N = 943), bisexual/pansexual (N = 919), and heterosexual (N = 27,751) adults self-selected to participate in a 21-day ecological momentary assessment study using a digital platform on eligible smartphones that had an embedded optic sensor to measure physiological responses. Participants were prompted three times daily to provide perceptions of stress, psychological well-being, blood pressure, heart rate, and recent health behaviors. RESULTS: Bisexual/pansexual adults reported more stress events, greater perceptions of stress, poorer coping, and less positive emotions compared to lesbian/gay and heterosexual adults. Bisexual/pansexual and lesbian/gay adults recorded higher heart rate compared to heterosexual adults. No differences were observed in blood pressure, perceptions of threat, or unfair treatment. Unfair treatment mediated the relationship between sexual orientation and stress for bisexual/pansexual but not lesbian/gay adults. CONCLUSION: Stigma has the potential to shape perceptions of stress, psychological well-being, and markers of physical health for LGB adults. Despite several indices of poor health, LGB adults demonstrate some elements of psychological and physical resilience that may have long-term health effects. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).