Relations Between Sexual and Gender Minority Stress, Personal Hardiness, and Psychological Stress in Emerging Adulthood: Examining Indirect Effects via Human-Animal Interaction

Introduction: Although there is emerging evidence that companion animals are important sources of comfort and support for many LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and other sexual and gender minority identities) individuals, little is known about the interplay between sexual and gender minority (SGM) stress, human-animal interaction (HAI), and psychological adjustment in this population. To address this gap in the literature, the current study examined the role of HAI in relations between SGM stress (i.e., microaggressions, victimization) and psychological adjustment (i.e., self-efficacy, psychological stress) during emerging adulthood. Methods: Our sample included LGBTQ+ young adults between the ages of 18 and 21 years (N = 136; 37.5% racial/ethnic minority; 49.2% transgender or gender-expansive; 98.5% sexual minority). Participants were recruited via convenience sampling methods in partnership with community agencies. We tested a mediation model using structural equation modeling with a bootstrapping approach to examine direct and indirect associations between SGM stress, HAI, and psychological adjustment, controlling for the effects of demographic factors. Results: The hypothesized mediation model fit the data well (Χ2/df = 1.71, CFI = 0.96, TLI = 0.93, RMSEA = 0.07, SRMR = 0.04). Results indicated that SGM microaggressions were significantly associated with HAI (β = 0.45, p \u3c .001, 95% CI [0.24, 0.62]) and psychological stress (β = 0.36, p \u3c .001, 95% CI [0.19, 0.54]), but not self-efficacy. Victimization was not significantly associated with HAI, self-efficacy, or psychological stress. HAI was significantly and positively associated with self-efficacy (β = 0.31, p \u3c .001, 95% CI [0.13, 0.47]), but was not significantly related to psychological stress. Finally, we found evidence of only one indirect-only effect of SGM microaggressions on self-efficacy via HAI (β = 0.14, p = .001, 95% CI [0.07, 0.24]). Conclusion: This is the first study, to our knowledge, that explored the potential mediating role of HAI in the relations between SGM microaggressions, victimization, self-efficacy, and psychological stress. Results of this study suggest that exposure to SGM stress may lead LGBTQ+ young adults to seek out relationships with pets, which in turn, may promote self-efficacy, a factor associated with resilience. However, due to the cross-sectional nature of our data, we cannot infer causation. Further research is needed to explore the longitudinal reciprocal associations between SGM stress, HAI, and psychological adjustment over time, and mechanisms through which HAI may promote resilience in this population.https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/gradposters/1129/thumbnail.jp

Victimization and Psychological Wellbeing among Sexual and Gender Minority Emerging Adults: Testing the Moderating Role of Emotional Comfort from Companion Animals

Introduction: Human-animal interaction science is a growing field, largely due to the potential psychosocial benefits companion animals provide to humans. One way companion animals may influence psychosocial outcomes is through their ability to provide emotional comfort, though few studies have examined relationships between sexual and gender minority stressors (i.e. discrimination, victimization, rejection), human-animal interaction, and psychological wellbeing. To address this gap in the literature, the current study evaluates whether, and to what extent, the association between gender-based victimization and psychological wellbeing (i.e., anxiety, depression, self-esteem) varies as a function of emotional comfort from companion animals among emerging adults. Methods: Data were collected from young people between the ages of 18 and 21 years who self-identified as a sexual and/or gender minority (N = 134; 37.3% ethnic/racial minority; 49.2% gender minority; 98.5% sexual minority). We conducted three simple moderation analyses that examined whether, and to what extent, gender-based victimization was associated with mental health (i.e., anxiety, depression, self-esteem) as a function of comfort from companion animals. Additive multiple moderation models were also conducted to examine comfort from companion animals and social support as moderators between victimization and each psychological wellbeing indicator. Results: Results of the simple moderation models suggest that the effect of gender-based victimization on self-esteem was moderated by comfort from companion animals (ΔR2 = .03, F(1, 125) = 4.66, β = .22, t(125) = 2.16, p = .03) and that the relationship is statistically significant only at low levels of comfort from companion animals (β = -0.38, t = -2.41, p = .02). Further, our additive multiple moderation model with both comfort from companion animals and social support as moderators of the relation between victimization and self-esteem found that victimization was significantly moderated by comfort from animals (ΔR2 = .03, F(1, 123) = 5.38, β = .24, t(123) = 2.32, p = .02), but not social support. The relation between victimization and self-esteem was significant and negative at low levels of comfort from companion animals, but only for those with high levels of social support (β = -0.43, t = -2.65, p \u3c .01). In contrast, when high levels of comfort from companion animals were reported, the effect of victimization on self-esteem was no longer statistically significant, regardless of whether social support was low or high. We did not find evidence of moderation in models with either anxiety or depression as the dependent variable. Conclusion: These results suggest that high levels of comfort from companion animals may be a protective factor against the harmful effects of victimization on self-esteem. However, our results suggest that comfort from companion animals may not provide the same benefits for anxiety and depression. Further research is needed to replicate our results and to elucidate whether other aspects of HAI, such as attachment to pets or caretaking for pets, may play a role in associations between victimization and anxiety and depression. Given the harmful effects of gender-based victimization and other stressful circumstances that LGBTQ+ youth are disproportionately at risk of experiencing (i.e., employment issues, housing insecurity), this study highlights the importance of exploring how, and for whom, comfort from companion animals and other aspects of HAI may provide protective benefits.https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/gradposters/1145/thumbnail.jp

The Moderating Effect of Comfort from Companion Animals and Social Support on the Relationship between Microaggressions and Mental Health in LGBTQ+ Emerging Adults

Introduction: Sexual and/or gender minority (SGM; e.g., lesbian, transgender, nonbinary, LGBTQ+) individuals are frequently exposed to various forms of minority stress that impact their mental health and wellbeing. Microaggressions, a form of minority stress, are defined as unconscious behaviors or statements directed at members of marginalized groups that reflect a hostile or discriminatory message. Microaggressions have been associated with several detrimental outcomes, such as depression and anxiety. Social support has been found to be an important protective factor for SGM emerging adults. Additionally, relationships with companion animals are an underexplored source of support that may be important for SGM individuals. This study aims to explore whether, and to what extent, social support from humans and comfort from companion animals moderates the relationship between SGM-related microaggressions and depressive and anxiety symptoms. Methods: We partnered with five community organizations to recruit our sample, which consisted of 134 SGM emerging adults between the ages of 18 and 21 (Mage = 19.31). Approximately 98.5% of our sample identified with a sexual minority identity, 49.5% identified with a gender minority identity, and 37.3% identified as a racial/ethnic minority. All participants had lived with a companion animal within the past year, with the majority of participants living with a dog and/or a cat. We conducted eight simple moderation analyses to explore whether, and to what extent, comfort from companion animals and human social support individually moderated the relationship between two forms of microaggressions (i.e., interpersonal, environmental) and anxiety and depressive symptoms. Further, we ran four additive moderation analyses to investigate whether comfort from companion animals and social support from humans moderated the relationship between each form of microaggressions and mental health symptoms, when the other moderator was held constant. Results: The results of our simple moderation analyses indicated that social support moderated the relationship between both forms of microaggressions and depressive symptoms (interpersonal: ΔR2 = 0.03, F(1, 125) = 4.74, ꞵ = -0.17, t(125) = -2.18, p = .03; environmental: ΔR2 = 0.02, F(1, 124) = 3.93, ꞵ = -0.19, t(124) = -1.98, p = .05). Our findings suggest that social support acted as a protective factor, because the relationship between exposure to microaggressions and depressive symptoms was not significant when participants reported high levels of social support. Comfort from companion animals also moderated the relationship between interpersonal microaggressions and depressive symptoms (ΔR2 = 0.03, F(1, 125) = 4.78, ꞵ = 0.18, t(125) = 2.19, p = .03). However, comfort from companion animals seemed to exacerbate the association between interpersonal microaggressions and depressive symptoms, as there was a positive and significant relationship between these two variables when participants reported medium or high levels of comfort from companion animals. The results of the additive moderation analyses found that the relationship between exposure to microaggressions and depressive symptoms was positive and significant when social support was low or medium and comfort from companion animals was high or medium. However, when social support was high, the relationship was no longer significant, regardless of the level of comfort from companion animals. Discussion: Our results suggest that social support from humans may be a key protective factor that buffers the relationship between microaggressions and depressive symptoms. Further, these findings also highlight the need to continue investigating the complex role of relationships with companion animals on mental health outcomes for SGM emerging adults. In particular, longitudinal studies are needed to clarify the direction of these relationships, as we are unable to make causal inferences with this cross-sectional study. The results from this study have important implications for future research in this area and practice with SGM populations.https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/gradposters/1142/thumbnail.jp

Childhood Adversity Moderates Change in Latent Patterns of Psychological Adjustment during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Results of a Survey of U.S. Adults

Emerging evidence suggests that the consequences of childhood adversity impact later psychopathology by increasing individuals’ risk of experiencing difficulties in adjusting to stressful situations later in life. The goals of this study were to: (a) identify sociodemographic factors associated with subgroups of psychological adjustment prior to and after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and (b) examine whether and to what extent types of childhood adversity predict transition probabilities. Participants were recruited via multiple social media platforms and listservs. Data were collected via an internet-based survey. Our analyses reflect 1942 adults (M = 39.68 years); 39.8% reported experiencing at least one form of childhood adversity. Latent profile analyses (LPAs) and latent transition analyses (LTAs) were conducted to determine patterns of psychological adjustment and the effects of childhood adversity on transition probabilities over time. We identified five subgroups of psychological adjustment characterized by symptom severity level. Participants who were younger in age and those who endorsed marginalized identities exhibited poorer psychological adjustment during the pandemic. Childhood exposure to family and community violence and having basic needs met as a child (e.g., food, shelter) significantly moderated the relation between latent profile membership over time. Clinical and research implications are discussed

The Moderating Effect of Comfort from Companion Animals and Social Support on the Relationship between Microaggressions and Mental Health in LGBTQ+ Emerging Adults

LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and other sexual/gender minority identities) individuals frequently report exposure to microaggressions, which are associated with deleterious mental health outcomes. Social support from humans has been found to be an important protective factor for LGBTQ+ emerging adults. However, an underexplored area of research is the protective role of interactions with companion animals for this population. We conducted simple and multiple moderation analyses to explore whether and to what extent emotional comfort from companion animals and human social support moderated the relationship between LGBTQ-related microaggressions and depressive and anxiety symptoms. Our sample included 134 LGBTQ+ emerging adults (mean age of 19.31). We found that social support moderated the relationship between microaggressions and depressive symptoms. The relationship between microaggressions and depressive symptoms was not significant at high levels of social support, indicating the protective nature of human social support. Comfort from companion animals also moderated the relationship between interpersonal microaggressions and depressive symptoms. For participants with high or medium levels of emotional comfort from companion animals, interpersonal microaggressions were positively associated with depressive symptoms. Our results highlight the need to further investigate the complex role of relationships with companion animals on mental health outcomes for LGBTQ+ emerging adults

The Link between Family Violence and Animal Cruelty: A Scoping Review

There is some evidence that family violence (intimate partner violence, child maltreatment, elder abuse) co-occurs with animal cruelty (i.e., threats to and/or actual harm of an animal), which is often referred to as “the link.” The aim of this scoping review was to comprehensively search the literature to determine the extent of empirical evidence that supports the co-occurrence of family violence and animal cruelty and that provides prevalence rates of the co-occurrence. We searched eight electronic databases (e.g., Academic Search Complete, PsycArticles, PubMed) for peer-reviewed articles published until September 2021. Articles were eligible for inclusion if they were written in English and included the empirical study of at least one form of family violence and animal cruelty. We identified 61 articles for inclusion. The majority of articles (n = 48) focused on co-occurring IPV and animal cruelty, and 20 articles examined child maltreatment and animal cruelty. No articles examining elder abuse and animal cruelty were found. Prevalence rates of “the link” ranged from 80%. Findings regarding the association between family violence and animal cruelty varied. Some studies found that family violence was significantly associated with animal cruelty (or vice versa), but there was also evidence that the association was not statistically significant. Associations between family violence and animal cruelty were not significant in most studies that adjusted for sociodemographic factors. This suggests that sociodemographic factors (e.g., exposure to multiple forms of violence, and income) may explain the co-occurrence of family violence and animal cruelty. Based on the results of our scoping review, we recommend that caution should be taken regarding assertions of “the link” without further research to better understand the co-occurrence of family violence and animal cruelty and the factors and mechanisms that influence their co-occurrence