Psychodrama as group intervention on minority stress, identity and psychosocial well-being of LGBTQ+ Italian young adults: A qualitative case study

Background: Growing attention is given to LGBTQ+ well-being, mainly using the minority stress model, although it’s seldom applied in group therapy research. This study aims to investigate individual experiences and identity processes related to minority stress while exploring the effectiveness of group psychodrama on LGBTQ+ well-being and stress levels. Methods: Seven LGBTQ+ participants aged 19 to 27 years attended 10 weekly sessions of group psychodrama. The study utilized a qualitative exploratory case study design, where interview data underwent inductive thematic analysis and were triangulated with quantitative data concerning well-being, alexithymia, and LGBT Minority Stress. Results: Participants manage their minority-contextualized identity and stigma within their narratives, indicating that group psychodrama may benefit young LGBTQ+ adults by raising awareness and resolving stressors. Conclusions: The study validates the minority stress model but suggests broader theoretical integration, emphasizing the role of social identity and therapeutic impact of psychodrama in managing minority stress.