The psychological mediation framework seeks to gain a better understanding of the processes that can explain or account for the relation between stigma-related stressors and psychopathology among sexual minorities. Consequently, this research question requires theories and analyses of mediation, rather than moderation. It is important to note that some of the variables that we consider as mediators (e.g., social support) may also serve a moderating role. The crucial distinction, however, is that mediators are “activated, set off, or caused by” a stressor (Grant et al., 2003; p. 453) and therefore explain the relation between the predictor (i.e., stigma-related stressors) and the outcome (i.e., psychopathology) (Baron & Kenny, 1986). As explained by Grant and colleagues (2003), “Whereas moderators are characteristics of the individual and/or his or her social network prior to the stressor, mediators become characteristics of the individual and/or his/her social network in response to the stressor” (p. 453). Although the individual may possess some of the mediating characteristic prior to experiencing the stigma-related stressor, within a meditational framework the mediator will be significantly altered subsequent to experiencing the stressor
