Interpersonal and environmental microaggressions & depression: Thai LGBQ+ perspectives
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
Microaggressions, which are subtle verbal and non-verbal insults or denigrations, have been identified as prevalent experiences among LGBQ+ populations, often resulting in adverse mental health outcomes. In the Thai context, little research has explored the impact of both types of microaggressions on depression among LGBQ+ individuals. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between interpersonal (INMG) and environmental microaggressions (ENMG) and depressive symptoms among Thai LGBQ+ individuals. A sample of 307 Thai LGBQ+ participants was surveyed using the Thai Sexual Orientation Microaggressions Scale and the PHQ-9 for depressive symptoms. Hierarchical regression analyses were employed to determine the unique effects of interpersonal and environmental microaggressions on depression, controlling for sociodemographic variables and internalized heterosexism (IHP). Both INMG (β = .172, p = 0.008) and ENMG (β = .173, p = 0.007) were significant predictors of depressive symptoms, accounting for approximately 24.2% of the variance. When introduced into the model, they accounted for a significant ΔR2 of 0.079 (p < 0.001). After controlling for sociodemographics and IHP, these microaggressions contributed significantly to the explanation of depressive symptoms, emphasizing their key role in influencing the mental health of LGBQ+ individuals in Thailand. Interpersonal and environmental microaggressions impose unique mental health challenges on Thai LGBQ+ individuals. These findings accentuate the pressing need for interventions tailored to the cultural and regional contexts within Thailand. Furthermore, the research underscores the importance of acquiring a holistic understanding of the LGBQ+ experience, advocating for a more systematic exploration across Thailand's varied geographical landscapes to offer comprehensive solutions.
Downloads
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
All rights reserved. Apart from citations for the purposes of research, private study, or criticism and review,no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any other form without prior written permission by the publisher.
References
Balsam, K. F., Molina, Y., Beadnell, B., Simoni, J., & Walters, K. (2011). Measuring multiple minority stress: The LGBT people of color microaggressions scale. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 17(2), 163–174. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0023244
Bissonette, D., & Szymanski, D. M. (2019). Minority stress and LGBQ college students’ depression: Roles of peer group and involvement. Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity, 6(3), 308–317. https://doi.org/10.1037/sgd0000332
Brooks, V. R. (1981). Minority stress and lesbian women. Lexington Books.
Brown-Beresford, E., & McLaren, S. (2022). The relationship between self-compassion, internalized heterosexism, and depressive symptoms among bisexual and lesbian women. Journal of Bisexuality, 22(1), 90–115. https://doi.org/10.1080/15299716.2021.2004483
Byrne, B. M. (2010). Structural equation modeling with AMOS: Basic concepts, applications, and programming (2nd ed.). Routledge/Taylor & Francis Group.
Chen, J.-S., Huang, Y.-T., Lin, C.-Y., Yen, C.-F., Griffiths, M. D., & Pakpour, A. H. (2021). Relationships of sexual orientation microaggression with anxiety and depression among lesbian, gay, and bisexual Taiwanese youth: Self-identity disturbance mediates but gender does not moderate the relationships. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(24), Article 12981. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182412981
Crumley, K. (2019). Impact and perception of they systematic response to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and other sexual minority orientations (LGBTQ+) microaggressions [Bachelor’s thesis, University of Regina]. oURspace. https://ourspace.uregina.ca/items/dd4b3975-865d-48ab-b4fb-bdb28e4da56c
Dyar, C., Sarno, E. L., Newcomb, M. E., & Whitton, S. W. (2020). Longitudinal associations between minority stress, internalizing symptoms, and substance use among sexual and gender minority individuals assigned female at birth. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 88(5), 389–401. https://doi.org/10.1037/ccp0000487
Fox, J., & Weisberg, S. (2019). An R companion to applied regression (3rd ed.). SAGE Publications.
Hair, J. F., Babin, B. J., Anderson, R. E., & Black, W. C. (2019). Multivariate data analysis (8th ed.). Pearson Prentice.
Halpern-Manners, A., Schnabel, L., Hernandez, E. M., Silberg, J. L., & Eaves, L. J. (2016). The relationship between education and mental health: New evidence from a discordant twin study. Social Forces, 95(1), 107–131. https://doi.org/10.1093/sf/sow035
Hatzenbuehler, M. L. (2009). How does sexual minority stigma “get under the skin”? A psychological mediation framework. Psychological Bulletin, 135(5), 707–730. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0016441
Herek, G. M. (2000). The psychology of sexual prejudice. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 9(1), 19–22. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8721.00051
Herek, G. M., Cogan, J. C., Gillis, J. R., & Glunt, E. K. (1998). Correlates of internalized homophobia in a community sample of lesbians and gay men. Journal of the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association, 2(1), 17–25.
Herek, G. M., Gillis, J. R., & Cogan, J. C. (2009). Internalized stigma among sexual minority adults: Insights from a social psychological perspective. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 56(1), 32–43. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0014672
Kaufman, T. M. L., Baams, L., & Dubas, J. S. (2017). Microaggressions and depressive symptoms in sexual minority youth: The roles of rumination and social support. Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity, 4(2), 184–192. https://doi.org/10.1037/sgd0000219
Kocalevent, R.-D., Hinz, A., & Brähler, E. (2013). Standardization of the depression screener patient health questionnaire (PHQ-9) in the general population. General Hospital Psychiatry, 35(5), 551–555. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2005.07.003
Kroenke, K., Spitzer, R. L., & Williams, J. B. (2001). The PHQ‐9: Validity of a brief depression severity measure. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 16(9), 606–613. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1525-1497.2001.016009606.x
Kulick, A., Wernick, L. J., Woodford, M. R., & Renn, K. (2017). Heterosexism, depression, and campus engagement among LGBTQ college students: Intersectional differences and opportunities for healing. Journal of Homosexuality, 64(8), 1125–1141. https://doi.org/10.1080/00918369.2016.1242333
Matijczak, A., McDonald, S. E., Tomlinson, C. A., Murphy, J. L., & O’Connor, K. (2021). The moderating effect of comfort from companion animals and social support on the relationship between microaggressions and mental health in LGBTQ+ emerging adults. Behavioral Sciences, 11(1), Article 1. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs11010001
Matijczak, A., Tomlinson, C., Pham, A., Corona, R., & McDonald, S. (2023). Relations between interpersonal microaggressions, depressive symptoms, and pet attachment in an LGBTQ + emerging adult sample. Journal of LGBT Youth, 20(3), 658–679. https://doi.org/10.1080/19361653.2022.2091078
Meyer, I. H. (2003). Prejudice, social stress, and mental health in lesbian, gay, and bisexual populations: Conceptual issues and research evidence. Psychological Bulletin, 129(5), 674–697. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.129.5.674
Nadal, K. L., Whitman, C. N., Davis, L. S., Erazo, T., & Davidoff, K. C. (2016). Microaggressions toward lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and genderqueer people: A review of the literature. The Journal of Sex Research, 53(4–5), 488–508. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2016.1142495
R Core Team. (2022). R: A language and environment for statistical computing. R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria. https://www.R-project.org/
Salim, S., Robinson, M., & Flanders, C. E. (2019). Bisexual women’s experiences of microaggressions and microaffirmations and their relation to mental health. Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity, 6(3), 336–346. https://doi.org/10.1037/sgd0000329
Sue, D. W., Capodilupo, C. M., Torino, G. C., Bucceri, J. M., Holder, A. M. B., Nadal, K. L., & Esquilin, M. (2007). Racial microaggressions in everyday life: Implications for clinical practice. American Psychologist, 62(4), 271–286. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.62.4.271
Szymanski, D. M., & Henrichs-Beck, C. (2014). Exploring sexual minority women’s experiences of external and internalized heterosexism and sexism and their links to coping and distress. Sex Roles, 70(1–2), 28–42. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-013-0329-5
Szymanski, D. M., & Sung, M. R. (2010). Minority stress and psychological distress among Asian American sexual minority persons 1Ψ7. The Counseling Psychologist, 38(6), 848–872. https://doi.org/10.1177/0011000010366167
Szymanski, D. M., Kashubeck-West, S., & Meyer, J. (2008). Internalized heterosexism: A historical and theoretical overview. The Counseling Psychologist, 36(4), 510–524. https://doi.org/10.1177/0011000007309488
Timmins, L., Rimes, K. A., & Rahman, Q. (2020). Minority stressors, rumination, and psychological distress in lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 49(2), 661–680. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-019-01502-2
USAID, UNDP. (2014). Being LGBT in Asia: Thailand country report. UNDP Asia-Pacific Regional Centre.
Whicker, D. R. (2016). Masculinity matters: Perceptions of one’s own gender status and the effects on psychosocial well being among gay men [Doctoral dissertation, Marquette University]. e-Publications@Marquette. https://epublications.marquette.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1667&context=dissertations_mu
Wike, T., Tomlinson, C. A., Wagaman, A., Matijczak, A., Murphy, J., Watts, K., O’Corner, K., & McDonald, S. (2023). The role of thwarted belongingness on the relationship between microaggressions and mental health for LGBTQ+ emerging adults. Journal of Youth Studies, 26(2), 286–303. https://doi.org/10.1080/13676261.2021.2010687
Woodford, M. R., Kulick, A., Sinco, B. R., & Hong, J. S. (2014). Contemporary heterosexism on campus and psychological distress among LGBQ students: The mediating role of self-acceptance. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 84(5), 519–529. https://doi.org/10.1037/ort0000015
Woodford, M. R., Paceley, M. S., Kulick, A., & Hong, J. S. (2015). The LGBQ social climate matters: Policies, protests, and placards and psychological well-being among LGBQ emerging adults. Journal of Gay & Lesbian Social Services, 27(1), 116–141. https://doi.org/10.1080/10538720.2015.990334
Woodford, M. R., Weber, G., Nicolazzo, Z., Hunt, R., Kulick, A., Coleman, T., Coulombe, S., & Renn, K. A. (2018). Depression and attempted suicide among LGBTQ college students: Fostering resilience to the effects of heterosexism and cisgenderism on campus. Journal of College Student Development, 59(4), 421–438. https://doi.org/10.1353/csd.2018.0040
Yodlorchai, R., Suttiwan, P., Walch, S., & Ngamake, S. (2023). Developing and validating Thai sexual orientation microaggression and microaffirmation scales. Journal of Homosexuality, 1–29. https://doi.org/10.1080/00918369.2023.2275301