Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

NEWSMAKERS

Sexual orientation-based microaggressions risk factors for depression, anxiety, and internalized stigma – study

Sexual orientation-based microaggressions were risk factors for depression, anxiety, and internalized stigma and were positively associated with psychological distress, traumatic stress symptoms, alcohol use and abuse, cannabis use and problems, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempt.

Photo by Alexander Grey from Unsplash.com

Microaggressions based on sexual orientation were risk factors for depression, anxiety, and internalized stigma, and were associated with psychological distress, traumatic stress symptoms, alcohol use and abuse, cannabis use and problems, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempt.

This is according to a study – “Microaggressions Toward Sexual and Gender Minority Emerging Adults: An Updated Systematic Review of Psychological Correlates and Outcomes and the Role of Intersectionality” by Joshua J. DeSon and Margaret S. Andover – that appeared in LGBT Health.

The researchers wanted to synthesize research on the relationships among microaggressions and psychological correlates and outcomes among sexual and gender minority individuals, particularly since “sexual orientation-based and transgender and gender-diverse (trans+) identity-based microaggressions have been thematically identified in prior research.”

The researchers examined 45 quantitative studies examining sexual orientation-, trans+ identity-, or intersectional identity-based microaggressions and various psychological outcomes. These were identified from systematic searches of PsycINFO, PsycARTICLES, MEDLINE, and PubMed databases.

Some of the results included:

  • Sexual orientation-based microaggressions were risk factors for depression, anxiety, and internalized stigma and were positively associated with psychological distress, traumatic stress symptoms, alcohol use and abuse, cannabis use and problems, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempt.
  • Trans+ identity-based microaggressions were positively associated with depression, suicide attempt, and cannabis use.
  • LGBTQ intersectional identity-based microaggressions concerning race/ethnicity were associated with depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation.

According to the researchers, “these findings emphasize the psychological harm inflicted by various microaggressions on LGBTQ late adolescents and early adults.” As such, “future work should focus on microaggressions toward individuals with trans+ and intersectional identities and protective factors for these experiences.”

They added that this review “also highlights the distinct need for community-based research on implementing microintervention strategies in family, school, and work environments to mitigate the harmful effects of these microaggressions.”

Advertisement
Advertisement

Like Us On Facebook

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

Health & Wellness

Sexual and gender minority (SGM) students (including LGBTQIA) were 3.18 times more likely to report depression than non-SGM students (26.85% vs. 8.53%), and were...

Love Affairs

Study participants reacted to a stranger’s showing interest for their partner by feeling less desire for their partner, a reduced interest in investing in...

Travel

Effective November 1, people in Germany aged 18 and older can already change their names and genders in their official records, or have the...

Health & Wellness

Weight-loss interventions were associated with improvements in some polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) symptoms.

Advertisement