Discrimination and microaggressions are concurrently and prospectively associated with defeat in sexual minority...

Sexual minority college students experience elevated discrimination and microaggressions, as well as increased levels of defeat and suicidal ideation (SI). These experiences are believed to be highly variable, but little research has investigated the occurrences of these experiences on a momentary basis in sexual minority college students reporting SI.

We investigated concurrent and prospective relationships between discrimination (Everyday Discrimination Scale), microaggressions (Sexual Orientation Microaggression Inventory), and defeat in sexual minority college students reporting SI via ambulatory surveys. We hypothesized discrimination and microaggressions would be concurrently and prospectively associated with defeat. Further, due to the importance of examining reverse directional effects when establishing temporal associations, reverse directional models were also examined.

Participants were N = 49 sexual minority college students reporting SI with an average age of 19.27 years who were primarily White, Black, or multi-racial, and bisexual or pansexual, cisgender women. Participants completed M = 41.39 ambulatory responses (SD = 11.85). Results indicate discrimination and microaggressions were concurrently and prospectively associated with defeat. Defeat also prospectively predicted discrimination and microaggressions. There was a significant autoregressive effect of defeat.

Findings suggest discrimination, microaggressions, and defeat may be appropriate intervention targets for sexual minority college students who have experienced recent SI. Further research should investigate these relationships in other minority groups and develop interventions to disrupt self-perpetuating defeat in these individuals.