Daily Diary Study of Sexual and Gender Minority Emerging Adults’ Stressors: Codesign and Preliminary Findings

Emerging adulthood involves impactful developmental milestones for sexual and gender minority (SGM) individuals and is a critical period for understanding stress processes. Most existing SGM stress research is cross-sectional, with relatively little known about the everyday experiences that may confer mental health risk or resilience for SGM emerging adults. N = 104 SGM emerging adults (age: M = 20.21 years, SD = 1.92 years; 76% assigned female at birth; 35% gender minority; 53% Bisexual+; 55% White) were recruited to codesign (Phases 1-2) or complete for 14 days (Phase 3) a daily diary measure of identity-related and non-identity-related stressors and positive identity-related experiences. Phase 1 participants (n = 8) completed qualitative interviews and provided feedback on an initial draft measure. Phase 2 participants (n = 6) piloted a revised measure for seven days before providing feedback in qualitative interviews. Phase 3 participants (n = 90) completed the final measure for 14 days. Qualitative data from Phases 1-2 were analyzed using the immersion-crystallization framework, and descriptive statistics were computed for Phase 3 quantitative data. In Phases 1-2, participants emphasized the need to capture chronic stressors and stress tied to recent sociopolitical events in the U.S. In Phase 3, non-identity-related stressors were more frequent than identity-related stressors, proximal identity-related stressors were more frequent than distal identity-related stressors, and negative intersectional experiences and positive identity-related experiences were both common. Results highlight the importance of involving participants with lived experiences in all stages of survey design.