Associations Between Minority Stress and Depression and Anxiety Symptoms at the Intersection of Multiple Identities in Sexual Minority People of Colour

Abstract

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 modelled them as additive. Consistent with intersectionality theory, we examined the multiplicative associations of multiple identity-related stressors on depression and anxiety. Participants were racially/ethnically diverse sexual minority adults (SM; n = 383) recruited through Prolific Academic. Results from regression analyses demonstrated positive associations of racial/ethnic discrimination and intraminority stress on anxiety symptoms for SM men of Colour. Similarly, there were positive associations of heterosexist discrimination and internalised stigma on anxiety symptoms in SM women of Colour. Finally, racial/ethnic discrimination interacted with internalised SM stigma in relation to depression symptoms in SM women of Colour. 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 Colour.