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An ecological momentary assessment of the dynamic relationship between microaggression, idea of reference and affects
Min Yi Sum1, Charmaine Tsz Wing Wong1, Sin Ting Chu1
1Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Background:
Microaggression is the subtler and milder form of stigma that may be faced by patients with psychosis in everyday life. Momentary affective states and referential ideations may play a role in the processing of microaggression. The current study examined the relationship between microaggression, momentary affective states, and Ideas of Reference (IoR) in patients with first-episode psychosis.
Methods:
Experience Sampling Method (ESM) with 28 time points across a two-week study period was adopted. All participants had face-to-face clinical assessment at baseline. ESM data was analysed using both multiple regression models and data-driven Causal Discovery Analysis (CDA), which provide both group level and individual level analysis. Thirty-six participants that completed at least 60% of the assessment time points were included for analysis.
Results:
The multilevel regressions suggested that IoR and negative affects were significantly associated with microaggression. There is also a trend to significance between positive affect and microaggression. The CDA identified two causal pathways leading to microaggressions. One pathway was having more negative affects (sad, stressed, irritable) leads to more IoR experience which then leads to microaggression. The other pathway was through reduced positive affects (happy and relaxed). High heterogeneity was shown in the causal pathways leading to microaggression when personal causal models were examined.
Conclusion:
These results suggested that negative affects and the presence of IoR may influence their perception of microaggressive experiences. The study allows a better understanding of the role of different factors in the processing of microaggression experiences and facilitates the development of tailored intervention strategies for individuals facing microaggression.
Insights
Patients with first-episode psychosis experiencing negative emotions or ideas of reference (IoR) are more likely to perceive microaggressions. Reduced positive emotions also contribute to this perception, highlighting targets for tailored interventions.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Psychology
- Mental Health Research
Background:
- Microaggressions represent subtle stigma impacting individuals with psychosis.
- Momentary affective states and referential ideations are potential factors in microaggression processing.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between microaggression, momentary affective states, and Ideas of Reference (IoR) in first-episode psychosis patients.
- To explore causal pathways influencing microaggression perception in this population.
Main Methods:
- Employed the Experience Sampling Method (ESM) over two weeks with 28 daily assessments.
- Utilized multilevel regressions and data-driven Causal Discovery Analysis (CDA) for group and individual analyses.
- Included 36 participants who completed at least 60% of the ESM assessments.
Main Results:
- Negative affects and IoR were significantly associated with microaggression experiences.
- A trend indicated a link between positive affect and microaggression.
- CDA revealed two causal pathways: negative affects leading to IoR and then microaggression, and reduced positive affects directly impacting microaggression.
Conclusions:
- Negative affects and IoR appear to significantly influence the perception of microaggressions in first-episode psychosis.
- Understanding these factors is crucial for developing targeted interventions for individuals experiencing microaggression.
- The study highlights the heterogeneity in causal pathways, suggesting personalized approaches are necessary.
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