Category: LGBQT+
Francesca Kassing, Ph.D.
University of Nevada, Reno
Summerville, South Carolina
Natalie Holt, Ph.D.
Clinical Psychology Fellow
VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System
Antioch, Tennessee
Colleen Sloan, Ph.D.
Training Director, Psychology Internship Program
VA Boston Healthcare System & Boston University School of Medicine
Boston, Massachusetts
Francesca Kassing, Ph.D.
University of Nevada, Reno
Summerville, South Carolina
Ava Fergerson, M.S.
University of Southern Mississippi
Hattiesburg, Mississippi
Laura Wilson, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
University of Mary Washington
Fredericksburg, Virginia
Christopher Drescher, Ph.D.
Augusta University
Augusta, Georgia
Research has consistently highlighted significant mental health disparities among individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer (LGBTQ; McKay, 2011). In accordance with the minority stress theory, these mental health disparities may be explained by the experience of distal stressors (e.g., experiences of rejection, discrimination, violence) giving rise to chronic stress associated with proximal stressors (e.g., concealment of identity status, internalized stigma) among sexual and gender minorities (Brooks, 1981; Meyer, 2003). LGBTQ populations also face social and economic inequities which often intersect with mental health disparities and have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic (Salerno et al., 2020). Thus, this symposium highlights emerging research from presenters from a range of career stages and different settings focused on how the existing mental health disparities commonly experienced by the LGBTQ population, including minority stress and interpersonal violence, have been further compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic. We will also highlight potential mechanisms of change to inform response efforts for this population. Emerging research has also demonstrated that specific identities (e.g., bisexual and transgender individuals) within the larger LGBTQ community may experience greater mental health disparities (Fredriksen-Goldsen et al., 2011). Therefore, the presentations will emphasize how specific LGBTQ identities may be disproportionally impacted by these syndemic factors.
The first presenter, an early career clinical researcher with a growing research program focused on LGBTQ+ trauma exposure, will set the stage for the rest of the presentations by highlighting the disproportionate impact of COVID-related stressors and interpersonal traumas on specific sexual minority identities among a large sample of treatment-seeking college students. The second presenter, a doctoral student, will examine the role of proximal stressors (e.g., internalized heterosexism, posttraumatic cognitions) in the relationship between heterosexism and sexual victimization experiences and posttraumatic stress symptom severity among a sample of sexual minority women. The third presenter, an Associate Professor with 50 peer-reviewed articles and 10 years of experience at a small liberal arts university, will share data from a sample of transgender adults, finding that proximal stressors (e.g., internalized transphobia, negative expectations about the future) mediate the associations between distal stressors and posttraumatic growth. Our fourth presenter, an Associate Professor with 7 years of experience in LGBTQ mental health research, clinical work, and teaching, will examine sense of community as a potential protective factor against gender minority stress and depression for transgender individuals surveyed during the pandemic. Finally, our discussant, a Full Professor who is an expert in LGBTQ+ mental health, will summarize and integrate findings from across the four presentations, highlighting theory-based mechanisms of change that can be leveraged in treatments and preventive interventions for LGBTQ individuals facing intersecting emergencies and stressors.
Presenter: Francesca Kassing, Ph.D. – University of Nevada, Reno
Co-author: Filiz Sapin, PhD – University of Nevada, Reno
Co-author: Yue Huang, PhD – University of Nevada, Reno
Co-author: Yani Dickens, PhD – University of Nevada, Reno
Co-author: Jacqueline Pistorello, PhD – University of Nevada, Reno
Presenter: Ava K. Fergerson, M.S. – University of Southern Mississippi
Co-author: Aleksandrs T. Karnick, M.P.H., M.A. – University of Southern Mississippi
Co-author: Nicole Caulfield, M.A. – University of Southern Mississippi
Co-author: Dan Capron, PhD – University of Southern Mississippi
Presenter: Laura C. Wilson, Ph.D. – University of Mary Washington
Co-author: Irene Andrade – University of Mary Washington
Co-author: Elizabeth Wooten – University of Mary Washington
Co-author: Elizabeth Jones – University of Mary Washington
Co-author: Christine Wehner – University of Mary Washington
Co-author: Allison Jones – University of Mary Washington
Co-author: Laura C. Wilson, Ph.D. – University of Mary Washington
Presenter: Christopher F. Drescher, Ph.D. – Augusta University