The Mediator Role of Self Concept Clarity on the Relationship Between the Need for Absolute Truth, Problem Solving and Symptoms of Stress in Gay Men

Abstract

The self concept is a basic reference point for all people and it is closely related to need forabsolute truth. During the formation of awareness of sexual orientation, gay individuals want to captureabsolute information about their self concept; therefore, they have high level of need for absolute truth. Ithas been observed that gay men with low level of self-concept clarity use non-functional problem-solvingmethods and they show symptoms of intense stress because of their sexual orientation. The main aim ofthis study is to investigate the mediator role of self-concept clarity on the relationship between the needfor absolute truth, problem solving and symptoms of stress in gay men. The participants of the presentstudy consisted of 200 gay men aged between 20 and 50 years old. Demographic Information Form, SelfConcept Clarity Scale, Need for Absolute Truth Scale, Stress Self-Assessment Checklist and ProblemSolving Inventory were applied to the participants. According to the findings of this study, therelationship between need for absolute truth, problem solving, and symptoms of stress was mediated byself-concept clarity in gay men.