ABSTRACT:
Concerns about the well-being of sexually and gender-diverse people have increased due to growing awareness of adversities experienced such as violence, hate crimes/speech, and discrimination. Resilience and coping strategies may mitigate these adversities, however psychological predictors and mediators of resilience among sexually and gender-diverse individuals in South Africa remain largely unexplored. This study investigated how psychological resilience was enhanced by perceived social support, with self-efficacy as a mediator. A quantitative design using purposive sampling engaged 82 sexually and gender-diverse respondents in Cape Town, South Africa. Results based on Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) analysis indicated that perceived social support from family and friends was not associated with self-efficacy; only support from (a) significant other(s) increased self-efficacy. Regarding resilience, only support from friends positively influenced resilience, family support showed no association, and support from (a) significant other(s), while notable, was negatively associated, warranting further investigation. Although self-efficacy enhanced resilience, it did not mediate the relationship between perceived social support and resilience. Results highlight the importance of tailored interventions that consider the experiences of sexually and gender-diverse communities.