| Abstract |
Exposure to minority stressors specific to LGBTQ+ individuals, such as heterosexism and cissexism (or cisheterosexism) is not covered under the traditional adverse childhood experiences framework. This is important because childhood identity-related abuse by a parent/caregiver can lead to mental health challenges in later life through the adoption of maladaptive coping mechanisms. The present study aimed to examine the role of cisheterosexism and expressive suppression as serial mediators in the associations between identity-related abuse and depressive symptoms and suicide behavior. Participants included 563 LGBTQ+ identifying adults between 18 and 64 years (M = 30.02, SD = 9.05) from different regions of Spain and were recruited through social media (e.g., Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram). A serial mediation model was conducted with cisheterosexism and expressive suppression as the mediators in the associations between LGBTQ+ identity-related childhood abuse and depressive symptoms and suicide behavior. Findings indicated a positive indirect effect of identity-related abuse on depressive symptoms through cumulative cisheterosexism (B = 0.628, p < .01), and via cumulative cisheterosexism and suppression (B = 0.146, p < .05). No significant indirect effect was found for identity-related abuse on depressive symptoms via suppression (B = 0.086). An indirect effect was found for identity-related abuse on suicide behavior via cumulative cisheterosexism (B = 0.250, p < .01). Findings reveal that LGBTQ+ identity-related cisheterosexist experiences perpetrated by parents or caregivers are associated with harmful, long-term impacts on symptoms of depression and suicide behavior via experiences of cisheterosexism and expressive suppression. |
| Authors |
Ruby Charak  , Inés Cano-González , Román Ronzón‐Tirado , Rachel M. Schmitz , Jennifer Tabler  , Sidsel Karsberg , Ayleen Flores , Julián D. Ford
|
| Journal Info |
Elsevier BV | Child Abuse & Neglect , vol: 145
, pages: 106433 - 106433
|
| Publication Date |
11/1/2023 |
| ISSN |
0145-2134 |
Type |
article |
| Open Access |
closed
|
| DOI |
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2023.106433 |
| Keywords |
LGBTQ+ (Score: 0.534591) , Adolescent Exposure (Score: 0.511591) , Minority Stress (Score: 0.503285)
|
