3 - (IOP 26) Examining the Prospective Multiplicative Effects of Multiple Sources of Minority Stress on Internalizing Disorders in Cisgender Sexual Minority Men and Women of Color

Intersectionality theory proposes that experiences associated with numerous identities are variable and reflect a larger complex social process that can have serious mental and physical health consequences. Most studies concerning mental health at the intersection of different identities and their respective stressors on depression and anxiety symptoms have modeled them as additive. Consistent with intersectionality theory, we examined both the additive and multiplicative associations of multiple identity-related stressors on depression and anxiety in sexual minority (SM) men and women of Color. Participants were racially/ethnically diverse SM adults (n = 287) recruited through Prolific Academic. Participants were young (Mage = 29) and identified as Indigenous American or Alaskan Native (n = 6), Asian (n = 84), Black (n = 96), Hispanic White (n = 68), or used another term to describe their racial background (n = 33). Approximately half of the participants identified as men (n = 139) and half as women (n = 148). Most participants identified their sexual orientation as bisexual+ (n = 196). Participants completed the General Ethnic Discrimination Scale, Gay Community Stress Scale, Internalized Homophobia Scale, Heterosexist Harassment, Rejection, and Discrimination Scale, and Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale. Linear regressions were used to examine the additive and multiplicative effects of racial/ethnic discrimination, sexual minority stress, and intraminority stress on internalizing symptoms. Results evidenced positive additive associations of racial/ethnic discrimination and intraminority (i.e., stress generated within the SM community) stress on anxiety symptoms for SM men of Color. Similarly, there were positive associations of heterosexist discrimination and internalized stigma on anxiety symptoms in SM women of Color. Finally, racial/ethnic discrimination interacted with internalized SM stigma in relation to depression symptoms in SM women of Color. Findings provide critical information regarding the additive and multiplicative associations that multiple sources of identity-stressors have on the mental health of SM people of Color. Our findings provide some support for intersectionality theory and recent guidelines for adapting evidence-based treatments for sexual minority clients, especially regarding depression and anxiety.