Skip to main content
ABCT 2025 59th Annual Convention Main banner
Psychology Tools Ad
Final Program


Icon Legend
This session is not in your schedule.
This session is in your schedule. Click again to remove it.
Presentation Icons
Recorded Session
Recorded Session
Ticketed Session
Ticketed Session
ViewAttendees 2

Symposia

Suicide and Self-Injury

Daily Life Research on Self-Injurious Thoughts and Behaviors among LGBTQ+ Individuals: Towards Understanding Momentary Mechanisms in a High-Risk Population

1 - (SYM 76) Sexual and Gender Minority Stressors and Self-injurious Thoughts and Behaviors: An Ecological Momentary Assessment Study

Sunday, November 23, 2025
2:05 PM - 2:22 PM CST
Location: Strand 13A&B, Level 2
Keywords: Suicide, Self-Injury, LGBTQ+
Recommended Readings: Testa, R. J., Michaels, M. S., Bliss, W., Rogers, M. L., Balsam, K. F., & Joiner, T. (2017). Suicidal ideation in transgender people: Gender minority stress and interpersonal theory factors. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 126(1), 125.,   Nicholas, J., & Bresin, K. (2024). Everyday sexual and gender minority stress and health: A systematic review of experience sampling studies. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 53(4), 1221-1243.,   Kohnepoushi, P., Nikouei, M., Cheraghi, M., Hasanabadi, P., Rahmani, H., Moradi, M., ... & Moradi, Y. (2023). Prevalence of suicidal thoughts and attempts in the transgender population of the world: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Annals of General Psychiatry, 22(1), 28.,   Mereish, E. H., Peters, J. R., Brick, L. A., Killam, M. A., & Yen, S. (2023). A daily diary study of minority stressors, suicidal ideation, nonsuicidal self-injury ideation, and affective mechanisms among sexual and gender minority youth. Journal of Psychopathology and Clinical Science, 132(4), 372.,  
Abstract Body


Sexual and gender minority (SGM) individuals experience unique stressors (i.e., discrimination, victimization, non-affirmation, internalized stigma, expectations of rejection, and identity concealment), which are associated with risk for self-injurious thoughts and behaviors (SITBs). This ecological momentary assessment (EMA) study tested the temporal associations between SGM stress and SITBs and whether these associations were moderated by gender or sexual orientation. 



 



SGM adults (N=37; Mage = 32.76, SDage = 8.83) with past-month SITBs completed EMA 5x/day for 28 days. The sample was 70% assigned female at birth, 30% assigned male at birth; 59% trans and gender diverse (TGD), 41% cisgender; 76% bi+, 24% monosexual; 14% Black, 14% American Indian/Alaska Native, 5% Asian, 24% Hispanic/Latine, and 68% White. 



 



EMA surveys assessed SGM stress and four SITB outcomes: nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) urges (severity from 0 to 4), NSSI plans (yes/no), NSSI behavior (yes/no), and suicidal ideation (SI; severity from 0 to 4). 



 



Multilevel models with observations (Level 1) nested within individuals (Level 2) were used to test the association between SGM stress and SITB outcomes at the same EMA assessment and the subsequent EMA assessment (~3 hours later). SGM stress was centered within-person so positive values represented higher-than-usual reports of SGM stress for that individual. The intercept and slope of SGM stress on each SITB outcome were allowed to vary between subjects. Age, race, sex assigned at birth, and gender minority status were included as covariates at level 2. In separate models, we tested the moderation of SGM stress and SITB outcomes by sexual orientation (bi+ vs. monosexual) or TGD status. 



 



SGM stress was positively associated with NSSI urges (b = .14, p < .001) and SI (b = .05, p < .001) reported at the same EMA survey, and with NSSI urges reported at the next survey (b = .03, p < .05). SGM stress was not significantly associated with NSSI plans or behavior. The effect of SGM stress on SI was moderated by sexual orientation (b = -.13, p < .01): the association was significant and positive for bi+ and monosexual individuals and was stronger for monosexual individuals (bbi+ = .04, bmono = .17, ps < .05). No other moderating effects were significant, ps > .05. 



 



The results indicate that when SGM individuals experience more SGM stress than usual, they tend to experience more severe NSSI urges and SI, with a lingering impact on NSSI urges. These results can inform interventions for SGM populations by helping pinpoint high-risk moments for specific SITBs.