Internalizing the poison: A moderated mediation analysis of LGBTQ+ BIPoC college students’ experiences with intersectional microaggressions.

Abstract

As student bodies in higher education become more diverse, efforts to address diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) have also increased. Sexual and racial minoritized students are often systematically pushed out of higher education and currently report concerning dropout rates. Thus, research using an intersectional lens on oppressive experiences linked to academic outcomes is needed. This study aimed to unpack different types and levels of impact from intersectional microaggressions (racism and heterosexism) among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ) Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPoC) college students using an intersectional approach. Specifically, we assessed if the psychological distress associated with intersectional microaggressions mediated its relationship with school persistence. Additionally, we tested factors such as cisgender privilege, internalized racism, or internalized heterosexism as moderators for this model. Using a moderated mediation analysis (Model 13; Hayes, 2012), results supported our hypothesis that psychological distress helps explain (mediator) the link between intersectional microaggressions and school persistence. Furthermore, results for the first moderator—cisgender privilege showed this serving as a protective factor for cisgender people when experiencing these intersectional microaggressions. Results for internalized racism as a second moderator interacting with intersectional microaggression and cisgender privilege showed significant effects at all levels for gender-expansive participants, but not for cisgender participants. Finally, internalized heterosexism was a significant moderator for gender-expansive participants when experiencing intersectional microaggression in relation to psychological distress and school persistence. Our findings highlight immediate implications around education and well-being for LGBTQ+ BIPoC college students. We discuss limitations and implications that can better guide DEI efforts to serve these minoritized groups.

Immigration status microaggressions: A moderated mediation analysis of cultural stress, fear, internalization, and psychological stress among Latinx and Asian college students.

“…Similar effects of internalized racism associated with racial microaggressions and linked with lower school persistence have been observed among LGBTQ+ BIPOC college samples (A. Barrita, Hixson, et al, 2023; A. Barrita, Wong-Padoongpatt, et al, 2023; Gudiño et al, 2008).…”

A preliminary model of intersectional minority stress among sexual and gender diverse Black, Indigenous, and People of Color.

“…Scholars, such as Bowleg (2013) and Fattoracci et al (2021), assert that intersectional frameworks seek to understand human experiences holistically by examining the interlock of intersecting identities (e.g., SGD-BIPOC) rather than viewing identities as separate and unidimensional constructs (e.g., SGD or BIPOC). Intersectionality has proven to be an influential tool in examining how multiple intersecting systems of oppression produce unique individual and interpersonal experiences (Barrita, Hixson, et al, 2023; Barrita, Wong-Padoongpatt, et al, 2023; Bowleg, 2013; Jackson et al, 2020; Parmenter et al, 2021). The foundational work of intersectional scholars has provided various intersectional phenomena that are applicable in articulating minority stress among SGD-BIPOC populations.…”

“…SGD-BIPOC not only experience intersectional distal stress but also internalize such stressors (i.e., proximal stressors). Indeed, intersectional distal stressors that communicate oppressive messages of exclusion and invalidation are then internalized by SGD-BIPOC, yielding unique intersectional identity conflict (Barrita, Wong-Padoongpatt, et al, 2023). Morales (1989) created the concept of CiA to articulate the unique internalized experiences of SGD-BIPOC attempting to separate their SGD and BIPOC identities amid community conflict and exclusion.…”

“…Identifying and testing intersectional minority stress mechanisms may further our understanding of minority stress theory and provide important clinical implications for working with SGD-BIPOC populations. Based on evidence suggesting distal stressors (i.e., intersectional microaggressions) predict proximal stressors (i.e., CiA; Sarno et al, 2021) and mental health (Balsam et al, 2011; Barrita, Wong-Padoongpatt, et al, 2023; Fattoracci et al, 2021; Ramirez & Paz Galupo, 2019), we hypothesize a positive direct association between intersectional distal stressors and proximal stressors (H1), a positive association between proximal stressors and negative mental health outcomes, such as depression (H2), and a positive direct association between intersectional distal stressors and depression outcomes (H3). Grounded in our understanding of how intersectional proximal stress (i.e., CiA) impacts mental health (Jackson et al, 2020; Santos & VanDaalen, 2016), we hypothesized that the positive direct association between intersectional distal stress and depression would be explained by proximal stress as a mediator (H4).…”

Promoting scholarship on equity, diversity, and inclusion in the teaching of psychology.

“…In their article, Barrita et al (2023) offer a unique perspective on the experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or other sexual minoritized identities Black, Indigenous, and People of Color college students. Their study explored the experiences of students with intersectional microaggressions with moderating factors such as cisgender privilege, internalized racism, and internalized heterosexism.…”