Investigating Daily Stressors Among Lesbian Women
Description/Abstract/Artist Statement
Sexual minority stressors (SMS; i.e., unique and hostile stressors resulting from identity) commonly occur to sexual minority individuals (e.g., gay, lesbian, or bisexual) due to discrimination and stigma, but research is relatively little on these experiences in daily life. However, not all sexual minority experiences are negative. Previous research investigated positive and negative experiences among sexual minority men and women but studying these experiences among lesbian women specifically and considering how the questions are asked is needed. The purpose of this study was to: (1) report rates of daily positive and negative experiences related to sexual identity in lesbian women, and (2) investigate how reports of daily SMS differ based on how the question was asked. Same-sex female couples (N=321 participants, ages 18-35) were recruited online and completed surveys for 14 days. Each morning participants completed measures of positive and negative events related to being a sexual minority and were asked about specific SMS experiences. Results for Aim 1 reported positive experiences on 18% of days and negative experiences on 5% of days. Results from Aim 2 showed when questions were asked generally about SMS participants reported experience on 5% of days, but when asked about specific experiences, they reported an SMS on 20% of days. Expanding past research, this study assessed positive and negative daily minority experiences among lesbian women. Experiences differed based on question type, such that there were more negative experiences reported when specific questions were asked. Future research and limitations will be discussed.
Faculty Advisor/Mentor
Kristin E. Heron
Presentation Type
Poster
Disciplines
Clinical Psychology | Multicultural Psychology
Session Title
Poster Session
Location
Learning Commons, Atrium
Start Date
2-8-2020 8:00 AM
End Date
2-8-2020 12:30 PM
Investigating Daily Stressors Among Lesbian Women
Learning Commons, Atrium
Sexual minority stressors (SMS; i.e., unique and hostile stressors resulting from identity) commonly occur to sexual minority individuals (e.g., gay, lesbian, or bisexual) due to discrimination and stigma, but research is relatively little on these experiences in daily life. However, not all sexual minority experiences are negative. Previous research investigated positive and negative experiences among sexual minority men and women but studying these experiences among lesbian women specifically and considering how the questions are asked is needed. The purpose of this study was to: (1) report rates of daily positive and negative experiences related to sexual identity in lesbian women, and (2) investigate how reports of daily SMS differ based on how the question was asked. Same-sex female couples (N=321 participants, ages 18-35) were recruited online and completed surveys for 14 days. Each morning participants completed measures of positive and negative events related to being a sexual minority and were asked about specific SMS experiences. Results for Aim 1 reported positive experiences on 18% of days and negative experiences on 5% of days. Results from Aim 2 showed when questions were asked generally about SMS participants reported experience on 5% of days, but when asked about specific experiences, they reported an SMS on 20% of days. Expanding past research, this study assessed positive and negative daily minority experiences among lesbian women. Experiences differed based on question type, such that there were more negative experiences reported when specific questions were asked. Future research and limitations will be discussed.