Impacts of Digital Microaggressions on LGBTQ+ Young People

Background: Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and other sexual and/or gender minority (LGBTQ+) youth are often challenged by anti-LGBTQ+ microaggressions (i.e., subtle forms of prejudice and discrimination). Microaggressions take on many forms, including homophobic and transphobic language and behaviors; exoticization of LGBTQ+ identities; and assumptions that all LGBTQ+ people have the same experiences. With the widespread growth of high-speed and mobile internet access, anti-LGBTQ+ microaggressions are becoming more prevalent online. This is concerning, given prejudice and discrimination negatively influence health and well-being. However, there is a lack of knowledge related to the impacts of digital microaggressions on LGBTQ+ youth. Therefore, this study examined the perceived impacts of digital microaggressions among LGBTQ+ youth and investigated the relationships between digital microaggressions, stress, and well-being.

Methods: An online survey was conducted with 1,804 LGBTQ+ youth ages 14–24 from Canada, the UK, and the US. Respondents completed a battery of instruments, including two measures on LGBTQ+ digital microaggressions, the Perceived Stress Scale, and the Psychological Well-Being Scale. They also responded to a series of items about the impacts of digital microaggressions on their emotional well-being, physical health, behaviors, identity, peer relationships, and resilience. Respondents then indicated which adults they could trust to help them when they experienced digital microaggressions.

Descriptive statistics were run to determine the perceived impacts of digital microaggressions on LGBTQ+ youth. Hierarchical linear regression modeling was used to investigate the relationships between experiencing digital microaggressions and the various subscales of the Perceived Stress Scale and Psychological Well-Being Scale.

Results: Respondents reported the most impacts of digital microaggressions on their emotional well-being. For example, 81.3% of respondents were at least somewhat frustrated, 75.7% were at least somewhat upset, 73.5% were at least somewhat angry, and 52.6% felt at least somewhat worthless. Most respondents reported little or no impacts on their physical health, behavior, identity, peer relationships, or resilience. Additionally, only 9.8% of respondents reporting trusting social workers to help, while 31.2% trusted LGBTQ+ adults, 14.2% trusted teachers, and 11.7% trusted their parents.

Results show that three of the four subscales for experiencing digital microaggressions were significantly associated with greater perceived stress (R² = .316, F(4, 2239) = 61.88, p < .01). Seven hierarchical regression models then revealed perceived stress mediated the relationship between digital microaggressions and overall psychological well-being, environmental mastery, personal growth, autonomy, positive relationships with others, and self-acceptance but not purpose.

Implications: Findings suggest digital microaggressions occur frequently and may have immediate, memorable impacts on emotional well-being. Further, the compilation of microaggressions may harm the long-term emotional well-being of LGBTQ+ young people. This is particularly problematic given the lack of trusted adults respondents reported relying on to support them. Furthermore, results provide initial evidence for the use of minority stress theory in understanding the influence of digital microaggressions. Future research should integrate interdisciplinary collaboration to explore the relationships between digital microaggressions and mental health and identify potential online protective factors for LGBTQ+ youth.