3 - (SYM 83) Impact of Minority Stress on Relationship Satisfaction in Asian American Queer Women

Research suggests that being queer and a person of color increases susceptibility to negative social experiences (Meyer, 2003). Inquiry into minority stress’ impact on relationship outcomes is important, especially work that examines different types of intersectional discrimination in populations with various intersecting identities (Petruzzella et al., 2019). We explored associations between multiple forms of intersectional discrimination and relationship satisfaction while accounting for depressive symptoms, in a sample of LGBTQ Asian American women. This study is especially relevant given the recent increase in anti-Asian discrimination and anti-LGBTQ bills. A majority of the 35 participants identified as Lesbian (46%) and as cisgender women (66%). They were on average 27 years old (SD = 7) and had a relationship length of 40 months (SD = 43). Participants answered surveys online assessing relationship satisfaction (Couples Satisfaction Index-32; Funk & Rogge, 2007) and depressive symptoms (Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale-21; Lovibond & Lovibond, 1995). Discriminatory experiences were captured with the LGBT People of Color Microaggressions Scale (Balsam et al., 2011) which measured the occurrence of microaggressions from various sources (Racism in LGBT Communities, Heterosexism in Communities of Color, and Racism in Dating and Close Relationships) in the past year. In addition, the Intersectional Discrimination Index (Scheim & Bauer, 2019) assessed anticipated, day to day (lifetime and past year), and major (lifetime) discrimination. Most forms of discrimination were significantly positively correlated with depressive symptoms but not with relationship satisfaction. Regressions controlling for demographics and depressive symptoms were run for each indicator of discrimination in predicting relationship satisfaction. Depressive symptoms and first-generation status negatively predicted relationship satisfaction. Additionally, past year day to day discrimination (b = 2.25, SE b = .85, p = .013) and anticipated discrimination (b = 11.00, SE b= 5.66, p = .062) positively predicted relationship satisfaction whereas the other types of discrimination did not. Results suggest that there may be resilience processes occurring that may be specific to romantic relationships. We will continue to collect data to increase the sample size. Future research should investigate protective factors and resilience processes from discrimination as clinically they may be targets of relationship intervention.