(PS11-B33) Self-concept Clarity as a Protective Factor Among Women and Sexual Minorities

The experience of discrimination has been shown to be related to the development of a variety of psychopathology(Chou et al., 2012). Previous research has shown that the relationship between discrimination and depressive symptoms is moderated by self-concept clarity (SCC) in bisexual individuals (Garr-Schultz & Gardner, 2021), but the role of SCC in discrimination-related trauma symptoms is not clear. The Trauma Symptoms of Discrimination Scale (TSDS) was specifically developed to assess distress from experienced discrimination, focusing on anxiety-related trauma symptoms (Williams et al., 2018). This study looks at the potential moderating role of SCC in the relationships of gender and sexual orientation with discrimination-related trauma symptoms. It was hypothesized there would be significant differences in distress, as measured by the TSDS, by gender (men vs women) and sexual orientation (heterosexual vs sexual minority) and that the interaction of marginalized identities would increase the rates of reported distress. Finally, we predicted that these relationships would be significantly moderated by level of SCC with high levels of SCC functioning as a protective factor for discrimination-related trauma symptoms.

Students (N = 231; 23.3% sexual minority, 60.6% women) from an introduction to psychology course completed the TSDS and SCC scale, and reported their gender and sexual orientation. PROCESS macro 4.3 for R was used to examine the relationships of sexual orientation and gender and their interactions with TSDS scores. The moderating role of SCC on these relationships was also examined. Women (β = 2.03, p = .047) and sexual minorities (β = 2.40, p= .024) reported significantly higher TSDS scores. The interaction between gender and sexual orientation was not significant (β = -.23, p = .837). SCC (β = -6.79, p < .001) showed a significant negative association with TSDS scores and significantly moderated the relationship between gender and TSDS scores (β = -2.32, p = .024). The three-way interaction between SCC, gender, and sexual orientation (β = -1.96, two-tailed p = .074) was marginally significant and in the expected direction. This study found evidence that, for women and sexual minorities, SCC is related to lower levels of discrimination-related trauma symptoms, moderates the relationship between gender and discrimination-related trauma symptoms, and potentially moderates the relationship between the interaction of gender and sexual orientation and discrimination-related trauma symptoms. These findings support and expand on previous literature illustrating the importance of SCC as a protective factor from distress after discrimination for women and sexual minorities and the interaction of said identities.

Chou et al. (2012). Perception of racial discrimination and psychopathology across three U.S. ethnic minority groups. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 18, 74.

Garr-Schultz & Gardner(2021). “It’s just a phase.” Self and Identity, 20, 528

Williams et al. (2018). Assessing racial trauma with the Trauma Symptoms of Discrimination Scale. Psychology of Violence, 8, 735.