From China to Australia: Identities, Coping, and Mental Health Among Chinese LGB Migrants

Abstract

Migrants are at an elevated risk of psychological distress compared to the general population, manifesting in greater rates of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. When combined with other stigmatised identities, such as ethnicity or sexual orientation, this risk can increase. Chinese LGB migrants in Australia represent one such group, yet research on their identities, coping strategies, and mental health remains limited. Guided by the minority stress model, this thesis employed systematic review, qualitative, and quantitative methods to address this gap. Findings indicate that in the pre-migration context (China), Chinese LGB migrants tended to perceive their sexual identity as more prominent than their Chinese identity. These experiences, which largely mirrored those of migrants prior to relocation, provide valuable insights into underlying reasons. These individuals were exposed to heightened mental health risks compared with heterosexual individuals, with internalised sexual stigma emerging as a key predictor. Nevertheless, general social capital, particularly social support, serves as a mitigating factor against such stigma. Following migration, Chinese identity became more pronounced than LGB identity, likely shaped by acculturation-related processes, such as racialised exclusion and cultural dissonance. Australian acculturation, in this context, may function as a double-edged sword—predicting greater internalised sexual stigma, but also elevated social support. The protective effect of social support appears to be related to cultural safety and identity congruence, with support affirming both Chinese and LGB identities being perceived as the most beneficial. This thesis extends our understanding of minority stress by deeply exploring the relevant dominant model in a non-White migrant population, highlighting the critical need for culturally informed, migration-sensitive approaches to support Chinese LGB migrants.