5 - (SYM 42) Examining the Protective Role of Enculturation on Positive Symptoms of Subclinical Psychosis Among Black and Latine Heterosexual and LGB+ Adults

Black and Latine individuals are diagnosed with psychotic disorders at rates 3-4 times greater than White individuals. Researchers have found that stressors, like discrimination, are implicated in this increased psychosis risk. Research also suggests that maintaining aspects of one’s culture of origin can be protective against depression and can buffer the impact of discrimination. There is also growing evidence of greater rates of psychotic disorders/symptoms in LGB+, as compared to heterosexual samples. Compared to individuals with one marginalized identity, LGB+ ethno-racially marginalized individuals are more likely to report more than one type of discrimination, which is assumed to exacerbate mental health difficulties. However, the literature is equivocal about this additive stress, possibly due to existing protective factors. Therefore, among Black and Latine adults, this study tested hypotheses that 1) discrimination would be associated with greater positive symptoms of subclinical psychosis (PSSP) 2) enculturation would attenuate the relationship between discrimination and PSSP and 3) explored the role of sexual orientation on these relationships (moderated moderation).

Hypotheses were tested in 211 Black and Latine LGB+ (n=105) and heterosexual (n=106) adults (M age in years=39.17, SD= 15.87) from across the U.S. who self-reported experiences in an online survey using the Everyday Discrimination Scale, Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences (CAPE), and General Ethnicity Questionnaire. The CAPE’s positive symptom subscale weighted score was used.

Discrimination was associated with greater positive symptoms of subclinical psychosis (PSSP), F(4, 206)=34.61, p< .001, b=.10, SE=.01, p< .001. Enculturation weakened the relationship between discrimination and PSSP, F(6, 204)=25.06, p< .001, interaction term b=-.04, SE=.01, p< .01. When sexual orientation was added as a moderator of enculturation in the aforementioned model, results indicated that the buffering effect of enculturation was only significant among the LGB+ subsample, F(10, 200)=16.36, p< .001, three way interaction term b=-.06, SE=.03, p=.03.

  
Protective factors are largely understudied compared to risk factors but results of this current study suggest that enculturation may protect LGB+ and heterosexual individuals alike against increased psychosis risk. Certain cultural factors may help shape culturally informed interventions for ethno-racially marginalized individuals in a manner that could reduce psychosis outcomes.