2 - (SYM 119) Minority Stress and Depressive Symptoms Among a Sample of BIPOC SGM Adults: The Role of SGM Community Connectedness and Ethnic Identity

Black, indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) who are sexual or gender minorities (SGM) experience intersectional minority stress related to multiple marginalized identities. Minority stress may overburden social, emotional, and cognitive processes, leading to dysregulation, and increasing risk for depressive symptoms. This 30-day EMA study investigated the association between minority stress and depressive symptoms, as well as potential protective factors (i.e., SGM community connectedness and strength of ethnic identity) among BIPOC SGM adults. We hypothesized that: 1) daily anticipated discrimination would be associated with greater same- and next-day depressive symptoms, and 2) that greater SGM community connectedness and strength of ethnic identity would buffer these associations.

Participants included 43 BIPOC SGM adults (M age = 27.2, SD = 7.7) recruited via social media and ResearchMatch. Most participants identified as cisgender (67%), female (67%), multi-racial (46%), Latinx (84%), Bisexual (37%) or Lesbian/Gay (37%). SGM community connectedness and strength of ethnic identity were measured in a baseline survey. Anticipated discrimination and depressive symptoms were assessed daily over 30 consecutive days using electronic diaries sent to participants’ phones. Data were analyzed using four mixed-effects linear regression models where depressive scores were regressed on daily anticipated discrimination and adjusted for demographic covariates.

Results indicated that SGM community connectedness moderated the association of daily anticipated discrimination and next-day depressive symptoms (B = -0.16, p = .06). Participants with average and high levels of SGM community connectedness experienced lower next-day depressive symptoms associated with daily anticipated discrimination compared to those with low levels of SGM community connectedness. The effect of ethnic identity on the association between daily anticipated discrimination and next-day depressive symptoms trended toward significance. Neither SGM community connectedness nor strength of ethnic identity moderated the association between anticipated discrimination and same-day depressive symptoms.

Our findings highlight the importance of considering the influence of intersectional, daily anticipated discrimination on depressive symptoms among BIPOC SGM adults. Beyond behavioral interventions (e.g. culturally responsive CBTs), increasing connection to SGM community may protect against depressive symptoms among BIPOC SGM adults.