(PS7-A19) Associations of Outness with Nonsuicidal Self-injury Profiles in Sexual Minority Populations

Sexual minority (SM) populations are at increased risk for mental health concerns, including nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI). Extant literature suggests that stigma such as discrimination, harassment, and internalized homophobia are associated with mental health disparities and self-damaging behaviors in SM individuals. Recent literature suggests that outness - the openness regarding one’s sexual orientation in different social domains - is associated with NSSI. However, theory suggests that health disparities in SM populations are due to the interaction between stigma and psychological vulnerability factors. Outness may place SM individuals at higher risk for discriminating interpersonal experiences, which are exacerbated by psychological vulnerabilities. Thus, the purpose of the present study was to examine the main and interactive effects of outness and depression on NSSI frequency, severity, and versatility (i.e., the number of methods used to self-harm). Participants (N = 94) were all sexual minority individuals (predominately bisexual [57.5%]) and were all assigned female at birth. Participants were recruited from a university campus and the surrounding community, were aged 18-46 (Mage = 22, SD = 5.04), were predominately White (75.5%), and 75.5% had a history of NSSI. Participants completed semi-structured clinical interviews and self-report measures for outness, NSSI behaviors, and depression symptoms. Results from three linear models suggest that outness and depression were not significantly associated with NSSI severity (p = .135). However, the DSHI versatility model was significant (p < .001), with only a significant main effect of depression symptoms (B = .21, p = .036). Moreover, the NSSI frequency model was significant (p < .001), with a significant main effect of outness (B = 4.82, p = .037) and interaction effect between depression and outness (B = .90, p = .004). Specifically, the association between depression and NSSI frequency was weaker at high levels of outness compared to low levels of outness (ps < .029). Moreover, at low levels of depression, as outness decreased, NSSI frequency increased (p = .045). Findings from the present study extend on previous literature, which has demonstrated that outness is associated with NSSI. Specifically, in SM individuals the strength of the relation between outness and NSSI frequency may depend on level of depression symptoms. Future research should examine whether certain social spheres of outness (e.g., family, world, religious domains) are uniquely associated with NSSI versatility and other self-damaging behaviors.