PUB - Publikationen an der Universität Bielefeld

Interpersonal sexual objectification (ISO) and discrimination are likely interrelated, with a higher prevalence of ISO among marginalised individuals, and both negatively associated with health outcomes. An understanding of how this intersection unfolds is unclear. This study investigates the specific associations and interaction between ISO, discrimination, and mental, sexual, and physical health. Additionally, we explore whether gender presentation and self-attributed links potentially moderate the link between ISO and discrimination. Data from N  = 280 participants were collected through a cross-sectional online-survey. Data was analysed with structural equation modelling and correlation analyses. ISO and discrimination were strongly associated ( r  = .69, p  < .001). ISO was significant negatively associated with physical ( b * = − .27, p  = .005), but not with mental and sexual health. Discrimination was significant negatively associated with mental health ( b * = − .28, p  = .006), sexual health ( b * = − .34, p  = .008), and physical health ( b * = − .30, p  = .001). No interaction effect between ISO and discrimination was found. No significant differences were observed between those, who believed ISO to be related to discrimination and those who did not. Individuals with higher feminine gender presentation experienced more ISO, even when controlling for gender identity. The strong association between the constructs ISO and discrimination highlights the importance of considering these factors together. The findings advocate for addressing multiple forms of discrimination in health research simultaneously, emphasizing for an intersectional approach. The interpretation of sexual health associations is limited due to psychometric constraints.