VOCES SILENCIADAS, MENTES RESILIENTES: THE PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS OF LIFETIME ADVERSITIES ON LATINE LGBQ+ LIVES

Abstract

People of Latin descent residing in the United States may face substantial adversities given stressors of socio, economic, and cultural barriers leading to exposures of discrimination. Additionally, LGBTQ+ people are susceptible to various forms of adversities and violent victimization both during adolescent years and later as adults. While existing research has examined these two groups separately in relation to how such adversities affect their mental health well-being, little research has evaluated the level at which psychological distress is associated to experienced adversities amongst Latine LGBQ+ individuals. Thus, it is imperative to investigate victimization and negative health outcomes among Latine LGBQ+ individuals. In this study, I examine the possible effects of adverse experiences through the minority stress model. Specifically, I use data from the 2016 Generations study (N= 1,384) to examine how experienced lifetime adversities affect the mental health well-being of Latine LGBQ+ respondents face. Findings shows that Latine LGBQ+ respondents are more likely to report higher levels of psychological distress when they report having experienced childhood sexual abuse and adult robbery. In addition, Latine LGBQ+ reported lower levels of psychological distress when they report having experienced childhood physical abuse and adult physical assault. These analyses provide important insight to the social costs and cultural influence that exist for Latine individuals amongst a society and a racialized system that is continuously placing executive orders threatening their livelihood.