(provided by candidate): Elevated rates of mental disorders among stigmatized individuals have been hypothesized to be linked to the individual and cultural oppression experienced by this population. However, this """"""""minority stress"""""""" hypothesis has not been adequately examined in empirical studies, in part due to the lack of a clear definition for this construct and the lack of a culturally-sensitive instrument to assess it. The proposed study will, in three components, develop a program of research for the applicant that will address the relationships between minority stress, coping, and mental health of populations stigmatized for reasons other than race/ethnicity or gender. First, the applicant will develop survey instruments to assess minority stress and culturally-specific coping processes. Second, these instruments will be used in an anonymous survey of stigmatized individuals examining stressors (traumatic events, minority stressors, and general stressors), coping (culturally-specific and general) and mental health outcomes (depression, anxiety, suicidality, PTSD, and substance use). Third, the applicant will work on a larger, NIMH-funded study of two-spirit Native Americans, utilizing innovative sampling strategies, in order to examine the construct of minority stress in a specific ethnic minority population while simultaneously gaining advanced skills and knowledge in the area of sampling methodology. Outcomes from all three studies may be used to advance the field of mental health research and treatment of stigmatized groups and may have public-policy implications.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Postdoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F32)
Project #
5F32MH069002-03
Application #
6927938
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-RPHB-4 (01))
Program Officer
Chavez, Mark
Project Start
2003-09-16
Project End
2006-09-15
Budget Start
2005-09-16
Budget End
2006-09-15
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2005
Total Cost
$52,151
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Washington
Department
Psychology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
605799469
City
Seattle
State
WA
Country
United States
Zip Code
98195
Balsam, Kimberly F; Beadnell, Blair; Molina, Yamile (2013) The Daily Heterosexist Experiences Questionnaire: Measuring Minority Stress Among Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Adults. Meas Eval Couns Dev 46:3-25
Balsam, Kimberly F; Molina, Yamile; Beadnell, Blair et al. (2011) Measuring multiple minority stress: the LGBT People of Color Microaggressions Scale. Cultur Divers Ethnic Minor Psychol 17:163-74
Balsam, Kimberly F; Lehavot, Keren; Beadnell, Blair et al. (2010) Childhood abuse and mental health indicators among ethnically diverse lesbian, gay, and bisexual adults. J Consult Clin Psychol 78:459-68