1 - (SYM 75) Through Their Eyes: A Qualitative, Daily Diary Exploration of Oppression-based Stress Experiences Among Sexual and Gender Minority Adolescents

Background: Prior research on sexual and gender minority adolescents (SGMA) has primarily focused on cross-sectional and retrospective reporting of oppression-based stress experiences, limiting the understanding of how oppression-based stressors manifest at the quotidian level. Given this critical developmental period, and the negative health risks associated with cumulative oppression-based stressors, further research is needed to illuminate the ways SGMA encounter oppression-based stressors on a daily basis. In this study, we provide an in-depth, daily, and qualitative examination of oppression-based stress experiences among SGMA across varying social environments.

Methods: A sample of 94 SGMA, ages 12 to 18 years old (M = 16.10, SD = 1.50; 68.1% cisgender, 54.8% White), were recruited and completed up to 21 days of daily diaries, in which respondents answered an open-ended question surrounding their daily negative experiences—or “lows”—associated with their marginalized identities.

Results: A total of 1,629 entries were analyzed using qualitative content analysis methods. Responses indicated five themes of daily oppression-based stress experiences, encompassing: (1) social rejection and discomfort, (2) relationship stressors, (3) stress related to identity development and disclosure, (4) structural cissexism related stressors, and (5) negative or inadequate representation.

Discussion: Our findings elucidate the content and type of oppression-based stressors SGMA experience across multiple intrapersonal and interpersonal domains. Particularly, stressors related to identity development, nonconsensual identity disclosures, romantic relationships, and inadequate LGBTQ+ representation in the media emerged as salient, intervenable and novel domains for future research to reduce the everyday oppression-based stress experiences of SGMA.