O te peinas, o te haces rolos: Intersectional discrimination, identity conflict, and mental health among Latinx sexual minoritized adults.

Abstract

Objectives: People of color with minoritized sexual identities (e.g., lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer) experience identity-based challenges from outside and within their communities. Through the integrative lens of minority stress theory and intersectionality, the present study examined identity conflict, also known as conflicts in allegiances-the perceived incongruence between one's sexual and ethnic identities-as a statistical mediator of the association between intersectional discrimination (heterosexist discrimination experienced within the Latinx community and ethnic discrimination experienced within the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer [LGBTQ+] community) and mental health outcomes (depression and anxiety). Method: A cross-sectional sample of 452 Latinx sexual minoritized adults living in the United States participated in the study. The PROCESS macro (Model 4; Hayes, 2018) was used to test the hypothesis that heterosexist discrimination experienced within the Latinx community and ethnic discrimination experienced within the LGBTQ+ community are associated with depression and anxiety indirectly through identity conflict. In each mediation model, outness to family was included as a covariate, along with participant age, education, generation status, and language preference. Results: Approximately 37% of participants had clinically significant depression scores and 54% had clinically significant anxiety scores. As expected, experiences of intersectional discrimination (i.e., Latinx heterosexist discrimination and LGBTQ+ ethnic discrimination) were indirectly associated with depression and anxiety through higher levels of identity conflict. Conclusions: Findings increase awareness of unique psychosocial factors that may underlie mental health inequities affecting Latinx adults with minoritized sexual identities. Such knowledge can facilitate the development of culturally responsive interventions that best support this diverse population by addressing intersectional minority stressors. Public Significance StatementThis study shows that experiences of sexual orientation-based discrimination within the Latinx community and experiences of ethnicity-based discrimination within the LGBTQ+ community are related to feelings of incompatibility between one's sexual and ethnic identities, depression, and anxiety among Latinx sexual minoritized adults. These findings pave the way for future research and interventions that are inclusive of diverse and intersecting identities; public health initiatives that aim to reduce identity-based challenges at the community level are encouraged.

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

“…Shepherd et al (2023) found that intersectional distal stressors were associated with mental health through CiA. While this study has confirmed these associations in a sample of Latinx SGD people, Shepherd et al’s (2023) study examined heterosexism and racism separately rather than collectively. Further, additional research is needed to confirm how CiA may serve as an intersectional proximal stressor that indirectly confirms the associations between intersectional distal stress (e.g., intersectional microaggressions) and mental health among broader samples of SGD-BIPOC.…”

“…Further, CiA may serve as a mechanism between intersectional distal stressors and mental health, with Jackson et al (2020) documenting how daily negative intersectional experiences were indirectly associated with negative affect through CiA. Shepherd et al (2023) found that intersectional distal stressors were associated with mental health through CiA. While this study has confirmed these associations in a sample of Latinx SGD people, Shepherd et al’s (2023) study examined heterosexism and racism separately rather than collectively.…”

“…Minority stress theory continues to be utilized as a framework for understanding how internal and external stigma impacts mental health for SGD populations; however, minority stress theory has often focused on a single axis of identity approach (e.g., SGD) rather than multiple intersecting identities (e.g., SGD-BIPOC). In attempting to address this gap, many scholars have used additive or multiplicative (i.e., SGD + BIPOC or SGD × BIPOC) methodologies or modified single-axis measures of SGD experiences to map onto SGD-BIPOC populations when examining the effects of minority stress on mental health (English et al, 2018; McConnell et al, 2018; Ramirez & Paz Galupo, 2019; Shepherd et al, 2023). While such research furthered our understanding of how minority stress impacts SGD-BIPOC, it also missed opportunities to examine how unique measures of SGD-BIPOC intersectional minority stress (i.e., SGD-BIPOC intersectional microaggressions, conflicts in allegiances [CiA]) impact mental health among SGD-BIPOC populations.…”

“…In their systematic review, Sadika et al (2020) found that several studies captured experiences of identity conflict or internalized worry of betraying one’s community. While quantitative studies examining CiA are still in their infancy, research provides preliminary evidence suggesting CiA may serve as an intersectional proximal stressor (Jackson et al, 2020; Sarno et al, 2021; Shepherd et al, 2023). Not only do intersectional distal stressors appear to directly predict CiA (Balsam et al, 2011; Sarno et al, 2021), but CiA also has confirmed direct associations with depression (Santos & VanDaalen, 2016; Shepherd et al, 2023).…”

“…While quantitative studies examining CiA are still in their infancy, research provides preliminary evidence suggesting CiA may serve as an intersectional proximal stressor (Jackson et al, 2020; Sarno et al, 2021; Shepherd et al, 2023). Not only do intersectional distal stressors appear to directly predict CiA (Balsam et al, 2011; Sarno et al, 2021), but CiA also has confirmed direct associations with depression (Santos & VanDaalen, 2016; Shepherd et al, 2023). Further, CiA may serve as a mechanism between intersectional distal stressors and mental health, with Jackson et al (2020) documenting how daily negative intersectional experiences were indirectly associated with negative affect through CiA.…”