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Evaluation ViewAttendees 2

LGBTQ+
Symposia

Symposium 75 - Innovative Approaches to Assessing and Examining the Impact of Unique Forms of Oppression-Based Stressors and Affirmative Protective Factors among Sexual and Gender Minority Youth

Saturday, November 16, 2024
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM EST
Location: Franklin 8, Level 4, Downtown Marriott
CE: 1

Keywords: LGBTQ+, Stress, Stigma
Level of Familiarity: Moderate
Recommended Readings: Mereish, E. H. (2024). Oppression-Based stress and alcohol inequities among sexual and gender minority people: An intersectional multi-level framework. Alcohol Research: Current Reviews.,   Russell, S. T., & Fish, J. N. (2016). Mental health in lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youth. Annual review of clinical psychology, 12, 465-487.,   Mereish, E. H., Fish, J. N., & Watson, R. J. (2023). Intersectional minority stress and alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis use among sexual and gender minority adolescents of color: Moderating role of family support. LGBT Health, 10(1), 18-25.,   Flynn, S. S., Touhey, S., Sullivan, T. R., & Mereish, E. H. (2024). Queer and transgender joy: A daily diary qualitative study of positive identity factors among sexual and gender minority adolescents. Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity.,  

Sexual and gender minority youth (SGMY) face significant inequities in mental health and substance use. These inequities have been explained by oppression-based stressors (e.g., discrimination). However, several limitations exist that obscure our understanding of oppression-based stressors and their impact on mental and behavioral health for SGMY. First, measures of oppression-based stress have been primarily self-report and developed and validated among predominantly adult and White samples of SGM people–neglecting the unique and developmental experiences of oppression-based stress among SGMY and the impact of intersectional oppression-based stress among SGMY of color. Second, there is little understanding of the impacts of vicarious exposure to oppression, despite the significant rise of cissexist and heterosexist legislation across the U.S. Third, there is a dearth of research identifying resilience factors that may mitigate the effects of oppression-based stress on health. Identifying protective factors provides much promise to guiding targets of interventions. To address these limitations, this symposium will have four presenters, from across career stages, who will showcase cutting-edge studies using multiple methodologies to: identify understudied oppression-based stressors, examine the impact of these  stressors on mental health and substance use, and test culturally-affirming protective factors among SGMY. 

The first presenter will describe a qualitative daily study identifying novel oppression-based stressors among SGMY. Using 1,629 qualitative daily diary responses, findings from this study highlight unique developmental oppression-based stressors (e.g., identity development stressors, nonconsensual identity disclosures, inadequate SGM representation) among SGMY. 
Addressing limitations in self-report measures, the second presenter will discuss a study testing the validity of a novel performance-based task examining oppression-based rejection sensitivity among SGMY. Findings from this study demonstrate the initial validity of this task as well as its potential promise for clinical science. 
Highlighting a distinct form of intersectional oppression, the third presenter will examine intersectional microaggressions and their associations with substance use in a large national sample of SGMY of color, and the protective role of the presence of affirmative school-based organizations (e.g., Gender Sexuality Alliances; GSAs). Results of this study highlight that intersectional oppression-based stressors are a risk factor for substance use among SGMY, whereas GSAs area protective factor
The fourth presenter will examine the associations between vicarious exposure to oppression and anxiety and depressive symptoms among SGMY and test the protective role of SGM-community connectedness. Findings of this study indicate that vicarious oppression-based stress is associated with greater anxiety and depressive symptoms, and SGM-community connectedness mitigated these effects. 
The discussant will synthesize the findings and underscore important implications for assessments, measurements, and interventions for SGMY.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of this session, the learner will be able to:
  1. Discuss an oppression framework and its applications for health inequities among sexual and gender minority youth.
  2. Identify and gain an in-depth understanding of unique and developmentally-focused forms of oppression-based stressors.
  3. Identify limitations in measures of oppression-based rejection sensitivity and learn about a novel performance-based task.
  4. Explain the impact of intersectional and vicarious oppression-based stressors on mental health and substance use.
  5. Identify two culturally-affirming protective factors that are associated with less depressive, anxiety, and substance use.

Presentations:

  • 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM EST
    (SYM 75) Through Their Eyes: A Qualitative, Daily Diary Exploration of Oppression-based Stress Experiences Among Sexual and Gender Minority Adolescents

    Speaker: Tara R. Sullivan, B.A. (she/they) – University of Maryland- College Park

    Co-author: Shannon Touhey, B.A. – Human Rights Campaign

    Co-author: Sofia Flynn, HS – Harvard University

    Co-author: Ethan H. Mereish, Ph.D. (he/him/his) – University of Maryland, College Park

  • 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM EST
    (SYM 75) Evaluating the Performance and Validity of an Oppression-based Rejection Sensitivity Task Among Sexual and Gender Minority Adolescents

    Speaker: Arushee Bhoja, B.A. (she/her/hers) – University of Maryland, College Park

    Co-author: Jessica R. Peters, Ph.D. – Brown University

    Co-author: Shirley Yen, Ph.D. (she/her/hers) – Harvard Medical School

    Co-author: Courtney Beard, Ph.D. – McLean Hospital

    Co-author: Ethan H. Mereish, Ph.D. (he/him/his) – University of Maryland, College Park

  • 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM EST
    (SYM 75) Intersectional Oppression-based Stress and Substance Use Among LGBTQ+ Adolescents of Color: Moderating Role of Attending a School with a Gender Sexuality Alliance

    Speaker: Jessica R. Abramson, B.A. (she/her/hers) – University of Maryland, College Park

    Co-author: Ryan Watson, Ph.D. – University Of Connecticut

    Co-author: Ethan H. Mereish, Ph.D. (he/him/his) – University of Maryland, College Park

  • 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM EST
    (SYM 75) Sexual and Gender Minority Youth's Experiences of Vicarious Oppression and Its Associations with Mental Health Outcomes: Protective Role of LGBTQIA+ Community Connectedness

    Speaker: Hannah G. Vanlandingham, Other (she/her/hers) – University of Maryland, College Park

    Co-author: Ash Arumugam, MPS – University of Maryland

    Co-author: Ethan H. Mereish, Ph.D. (he/him/his) – University of Maryland, College Park