Intersectional microaggressions, depressive symptoms, and the role of LGBTQ‐specific parental support in a sample of Latinx sexual and gender minority youth

Abstract

Introduction: Latinx and sexual and gender minority (SGM) youth experience higher incidents of racism, cissexism, and heterosexism in the forms of overt discrimination and microaggressions. These experiences could in part explain increased negative mental health outcomes, such as depressive symptoms. Evidence points to the possibility that LGBTQ-specific parental support buffers the effects of intersectional microaggressions on depressive symptoms among Latinx SGM youth. Methods: In a sample of 1292 Latinx SGM youth (ages 13-17), we assessed: a) the association between LGBTQ-specific parental support and depressive symptoms, b) the associations between three forms of intersectional microaggressions and depressive symptoms, and c) whether parental LGBTQ-specific parental support moderated the relationship between three forms of intersectional microaggressions and depressive symptoms. Main effect and moderation analyses examined interactions between LGBTQ-specific parental support with each of the three forms of intersectional microaggressions on depressive symptoms. Results: We found that Latinx transgender youth experienced higher intersectional microaggressions compared to their cisgender counterparts and that Latinx SGM youth who reported lower LGBTQ-specific parental support experienced higher depressive symptoms. We also identified a significant interaction between intersectional microaggressions and LGBTQ-specific parental support, suggesting that parental support was more protective at low rather than high levels of intersectional microaggressions. Conclusions: Findings suggest a need for future work examining culturally appropriate approaches to foster a supportive parent-child relationship among Latinx SGM youth and their parental figures.

Assumptions of immigration status: A moderated mediation analysis of racial microaggressions and internalization impacting latinx and asian college students

“…Researchers examining the effects of racial microaggressions have found strong evidence that these exchanges have a detrimental impact on psychological and physiological well-being (Abreu et al, 2023 ; Barrita et al, 2023a ; Barrita et al, 2023b ; Wong-Padoongpatt & Barrita, 2022a ). For instance, Wong-Padoongpatt et al ( 2017 ) experimentally tested the causal effects of microaggressions and found that Asian people who experienced a racial microaggression about English abilities showed increased physiological stress.…”

Mental illness stigma and microaggressions: An experimental study of familiarity and relationship quality.

“…with only one structurally marginalized trait (e.g., Latine cisgender youth; Abreu et al, 2023), and they are more negatively impacted by these experiences (Barrita et al, 2023). The concept of microaggressions has been scrutinized as simply being a less severe form of prejudice and discrimination (Barber et al, 2020); however, these experiences present unique tribulations for the recipient, including feelings of frustration, loss of selfesteem, self-stigmatization, and alienation (Gonzales, Davidoff, Nadal, et al, 2015;Peters et al, 2017).…”

Microaggressions and general health among Black and Asian Americans: The moderating role of cognitive reappraisal.

“…Department of Justice, 2022). However, it is important to acknowledge the large body of work that has examined the experiences of microaggressions and their detrimental effects on health among other ethnic/racial minorities (e.g., Hispanic/Latinx Americans; Abreu et al, 2023; Chakraverty, 2022; Sanchez et al, 2018) and other minoritized identities (e.g., lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer; Vaccaro & Koob, 2019). Prior research has found that microaggressions experienced by Asian and Black Americans were consistent with racial and ethnic stereotypes that occur in the United States (Forrest-Bank & Jenson, 2015).…”

“…The present study focuses on the microaggressions experienced by Asian and Black Americans given the increase of hate crimes and discrimination attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic among Asian Americans (Gover et al, 2020), the murder of George Floyd on May 25, 2020, and an increase in anti-Asian and anti-Black incidents from 2019 to 2020 (Federal Bureau of Investigation, n.d.; U.S. Department of Justice, 2022). However, it is important to acknowledge the large body of work that has examined the experiences of microaggressions and their detrimental effects on health among other ethnic/racial minorities (e.g., Hispanic/Latinx Americans; Abreu et al, 2023;Chakraverty, 2022;Sanchez et al, 2018) and other minoritized identities (e.g., lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer;Vaccaro & Koob, 2019). Prior research has found that microaggressions experienced by Asian and Black Americans were consistent with racial and ethnic stereotypes that occur in the United States (Forrest-Bank & Jenson, 2015).…”