Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Thesis Format

Integrated Article

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy

Program

Psychology

Supervisor

Heerey, Erin

Abstract

Microaggressions, subtle and often unintentional comments or behaviours, have garnered significant attention for their pervasive impact on mental health and well-being. This thesis explores the intricate dynamics of microaggressions and their psychological impacts, examining both marginalized and non-marginalized individuals, and how contextual factors and aspects of their identities shape their experiences. Two studies explored these phenomena. Study 1 employed a mixed-methods approach, incorporating broad recruitment, experience sampling methods, and longitudinal surveys over six months to assess the frequency of microaggressions and related psychological outcomes in 253 adults between the ages of 18 and 46. The main hypotheses posited that individuals with multiple marginalized identities whose minority status was always visible would experience a compounding effect of their minority identities, leading to more frequent microaggression experiences and worse psychological outcomes over time. In Study 1, individuals with multiple minority identities consistently reported higher levels of anxiety, depression, and stress. Additionally, the frequency of microaggressions reported over two weeks was associated with worse psychological outcomes at the two-week and six-month follow-ups, though these effects were not observed immediately or within hours of the experience. Marginalized and non-marginalized participants did not differ in the number of microaggressions they reported. However, individuals with more marginalized identities reported significantly more non-microaggression negative experiences compared to non-minority participants. These negative events contributed to decreased positive mood and heightened negative mood and stress. In contrast, positive experiences improved positive mood, even when occurring alongside negative experiences. Study 2 employed semi-structured interviews to investigate the perceived motives behind microaggressions and assess their impact on psychological outcomes. The results suggest that microaggressions stem from ignorance, bias, and well-intentioned but misguided motives, which nonetheless result in significant emotional distress for targets. These findings underscore the pervasive and insidious nature of microaggressions, particularly when occurring in close social relationships. Overall, the research highlights the nuanced and multifaceted nature of microaggressions and other daily experiences, demonstrating their significant and lasting impact on psychological well-being. These insights are crucial for developing targeted interventions to mitigate the harm caused by microaggressions and for promoting a more inclusive and supportive environment across diverse social contexts.

Summary for Lay Audience

Microaggressions are subtle, often unintentional comments or actions that are associated with lasting emotional harm. This thesis focuses on how these small but impactful experiences affect people with and without minority identities, focusing on the influence of context and group differences related to aspects of identity. In Study 1, I collected data from 253 adults over six months, asking them about their experiences with microaggressions and their feelings of anxiety, depression, and stress. I expected people with multiple marginalized identities, especially if these identities were visible to others, would experience more microaggressions and suffer worse anxiety, depression, and stress symptoms over time. Surprisingly, the results showed that both marginalized and non-marginalized participants reported similar numbers of microaggressions. However, marginalized participants, particularly those with multiple marginalized identities, reported significantly more non-microaggression negative experience and higher levels of anxiety, depression, and stress overall. As anticipated, microaggressions were linked to increased anxiety, depression, and stress, though this effect emerged only at the two-week and six-month follow-ups. Additionally, positive experiences had a significant influence on mood, consistently predicting greater positive mood and reduced negative mood and stress over time. In Study 2, I interviewed people to understand what they think motivates others to use microaggressions, and how that influences psychological outcomes. Many believed that microaggressions were motivated by cultural ignorance, bias, and good intentions. However, even when well-intentioned, these interactions were reported to incite feelings of frustration, sadness, and alienation, particularly in close relationships. Overall, this thesis highlights how different types of daily experiences affect a person’s mental health in the moment and over time. Understanding this can help us create better ways to address microaggressions and other burdens faced by individuals with multiple marginalized identities, leading to better psychological outcomes.

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