The effects of intersectional identity affirmation on the relationship between racist or heterosexist microaggressions and mental health for LGBTQ+ people of color

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) people of colour (POC) live at the intersection of multiple marginalised statuses. While previous literature has linked positive, affirmed identity with better mental health for LGBTQ+ individuals, identity affirmation may be compromised by intersecting systems of oppression. This study 1) investigated how multiple intersecting forms of oppression (i.e. racism within LGBTQ+ communities and heterosexism within ethnoracial communities) relate to anxiety and depression for LGBTQ+ POC, and 2) examined the indirect effects of intersectional microaggressions on mental health through identity cohesion. A subsample of participants who identified as both a member of the LGBTQ+ community and person of colour (N = 417) was drawn from an extant dataset. Mediation models tested direct and indirect effects of intersectional microaggressions on anxiety and on depression. Analyses revealed direct effects of intersectional microaggressions on both anxiety and depression (t ranged from 7.86 to 8.31, all p-values < .001), as well as significant indirect effects of both forms of microaggressions on depression via the pathway of lowered levels of cohesion. Racism within LGBTQ+ communities and heterosexism within ethnic or cultural communities may undermine the protective effect of intersectional identity cohesion, thus, contributing to poorer mental health outcomes for LGBTQ+ POC.