Because there are significantly smaller number of sexual minority individuals than heterosexual people, the sample of studies included in this meta-analysis are mostly convenience samples. Therefore, gathered samples may not be representative of the sexual minority population. 

Pepperdine University

There are mixed findings about levels of self-esteem in sexual minorities compared to heterosexual people. This could be explained by moderators, the factors that  moderate self-esteem and increase levels of minority stress or its impact. Such moderators are:
• gender and Gender Identity
• Sexual minority orientation
• Age
• Sampling Issues

Potential moderators of sexual orientation differences in self-esteem

Bridge, L., Smith, P., & Rimes, K. A. (2019). Sexual orientation differences in the self-esteem of men and women: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity, 6(4), 433–446. https://doi.org/10.1037/sgd0000342

Sexual Orientation Difference in the Self-Esteem of Men  and Women

Because the experiences of men and women are different, gender could be a separate moderator for self-esteem. Women have been shown to report lower self-esteem than men, and male and female sexual minorities may face different minority stressors. Furthermore, sexism can be internalized by women in the same way that homophobia can be internalized. This presence of multiple stigmata may interact to increase the impact of minority stress. This research, however, only looks at cisgendered men and women, and transgender, genderqueer, and nonbinary individuals' information further needs to be reserached. 

Gender and Gender Identity as a  potential moderator of sexual orientation differences in self-esteem

There are differences between different orientation in terms of mental health. For example, bisexual men and women experience higher rates of depression and anxiety compared with lesbian women and gay men. This is potentially because bisexual men and women experience stimga and discrimination from both heterosexual and LG (lesbian and gay) communities, as well as transgender communities. They also may have reduced support networks to cope with discrimination, as they often report lower levels of perceived belongingness to the queer community. 

Sexual Minority Orientation as a moderator of sexual orientation differences in self-esteem

Young sexual minority population under the age of 25 face and experience additional stressors compared with older adults. Younger adults, those who are under the age of 25, my experience uncertainty over their attraction and feel more distress because of it because sexual identity is still developing at that stage of growth. Furthermore, they are coming out to their family for the first time as young adults, though that could also happen later in life, or could be an ongoing experience. Young people, additionally, have fewer coping resources, having less time to create social networks and access to LGBTQ+ support. Younger age was also found to be associated with lower levels of social well-being among LGBT+ young adults. 
Cohort effect is also important to consider, that older adults grew up at a time when anti-queer attitudes and discriminations were more prevalent. 

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