2 - (IOP 28) The Impact of Family Sexual Minority Discrimination, Internalized Sexual Stigma, and Perceived Family Gossip on Suicidal Ideation in Sexual Minority Individuals

Research has consistently shown that relative to straight individuals, sexual minorities face a higher risk of suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, and mental health challenges, with Black Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC) at greatest risk due to culturally ingrained homophobic beliefs (Miranda-Mendizábal et al., 2017; D'Augelli et al., 2005; Marshal et al., 2011; Reisner et al., 2015). Family rejection has also been indirectly linked to SI through depressive symptoms in sexual minority samples (VanBergen & Love, 2021). Furthermore, sexual minority individuals that experience family discrimination report lower self-esteem and greater internalized stigma (Herek & Garnets, 2007; Herek et al., 2009). Gossip may reinforce social norms that further marginalize sexual minorities (Baumeister et al., 2004; Gluchman, 1963; Smith, 2014), We hypothesize that family sexual minority discrimination is linked to greater SI, mediated by internalized sexual stigma. Considering gossip’s role in enforcing heteronormativity and cultural norms like sexual stigma, perceived family gossip is also hypothesized to moderate the relationship between family sexual minority discrimination and internalized sexual stigma, amplifying the effects of discrimination through moderated mediation.

The current study examined a non-clinical sample of 150 sexual minority adults (age: M= 33.44 years; 78.7% female; 47.3% Black, 22.7% Latine/Hispanic and 16.7% East Asian) using an adapted version of the Organizational Rumor Scale for Educational Institutions to capture the perceived prevalence of gossip in families (Dağli & Han, 2018), the Internalized Homophobia Scale (IHP; Meyer, 1995), the Suicidal Ideation Attributes Scale (van Spiiker et al., 2014), and the adapted version of the Multiracial Challenge and Resilience Scale to capture family sexual orientation discrimination (MCRS; Salahuddin & O’Brien, 2011).

Contrary to hypotheses, family sexual minority discrimination was not directly associated with SI (b= -.586, SE= 1.01, p= .5611) and the relationship between family sexual minority discrimination and SI was not mediated by internalized sexual stigma (b= .384, SE = .129, p= .0035). However, discrimination was positively related to internalized sexual stigma, and this relationship was moderated by perceived family gossip, with stronger effects at high levels of gossip (1 SD above the mean), indicated by a significant interaction effect (b= .15, p= .01). Additionally, perceived family gossip moderated the indirect effect of discrimination on SI through internalized stigma, supporting a moderated mediation model (Index = 0.06, BootSE = 0.03, Boot 95% CI: [0.0062, 0.1306]).

These findings suggest that family gossip amplifies the negative psychological impact of family sexual minority discrimination, potentially exacerbating SI risk. Additional research is needed to explore the underlying mechanisms linking family gossip, family discrimination, and suicide risk, which can inform the development of future interventions and prevention strategies for this population.