Transdiagnostic mechanisms such as emotion dysregulation have been found to influence the relationships among minority stressors and poor mental health outcomes in sexual and gender minority (SGM) people. However, research has yet to describe why or how exactly minority stressors may impact SGM individuals' abilities to effectively access and utilize their own emotions. Because SGM people are at risk for universal forms of invalidation as well as identity-specific forms (i.e., minority stressors), understanding minority stress through the lens of chronic and traumatic invalidation may help to illuminate the core emotional processes underlying their disproportionate rates of emotional and behavioral disorders. This article aims to (a) introduce an emotion-focused conceptualization of minority stress in SGM people through the lens of traumatic invalidation, and (b) discuss relevant treatment implications and future research directions. Public Health Significance StatementSexual and gender minority (SGM) people are at particularly high risk for poor psychosocial outcomes. Identity-related minority stressors may function as group-specific forms of invalidation, disrupting SGM individuals' ability to identify, understand, and effectively utilize their emotions. Mental health treatments for SGM people with emotional disorders must prioritize helping them regain their ability to trust and use their emotions in the service of their values and goals.

OpenBU http://open.bu.edu Psychological and Brain Sciences BU Open Access Articles 2020-04 Experiential avoidance as a mechanism of change across cognitive-behavioral therapy i...

OpenBU http://open.bu.edu Psychological and Brain Sciences BU Open Access Articles 2020-03-01 Treating depressive disorders with the unified protocol: A preliminary randomized evaluation.

Background: Siblings of children with cancer have elevated psychosocial risk. Sociodemographic factors (e.g., non-White race, low income, and low caregiver education) are associated with increased risk. Little is known about how sociodemographic factors influence families' decisions to participate in sibling support services. This convergent mixed-methods study characterizes how sociodemographic factors influence parent decision-making to engage siblings in support. Method: A purposive sample of parents of children with cancer (N ϭ 28) participated in semistructured interviews that queried their perceptions of sibling support, including preferences for ideal support and perceived barriers to accessing support. Qualitative findings were merged with quantitative data to stratify by sociodemographic categories (ethnicity, parent-reported financial hardship, parent education). Applied thematic analysis was used to distill findings. Results: Sociodemographic differences emerged across parents' decisionmaking on whether to engage with sibling support services. Some cross-cutting barriers to accessing sibling support were described by all groups. However, differences across sociodemographic groups emerged for other barriers to care and for preferences for sibling support. Conclusions: These findings inform the design and implementation of sibling support programs. Providers can work with families to craft individualized sibling support plans that align with the family's preferences and circumvent perceived barriers, which may improve acceptability and use of support programming and ultimately improve siblings' psychosocial outcomes. Implications for Impact StatementThis article offers an overview of sociodemographic variables (ethnicity, financial hardship, parent education) associated with parents' decision to engage in support for siblings of children of cancer. An understanding of these factors can support clinicians in the design and implementation of programs that are acceptable and accessible for all families of children with cancer.