The Impact of Sexual Orientation Microaggressions on the Mental Health of Brazilian Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Individuals

Despite advancements in lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB+) rights and visibility, there remains a significant gap in understanding the nuanced experiences of subtle discrimination faced by sexual minorities in Brazil, particularly regarding the impact on their mental health. This research examines the role of sexual orientation microaggressions in shaping mental health outcomes among Brazilian LGB+ individuals. Specifically, we investigate the association between experiences of microaggressions and depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms within this community. Throughout four studies (N = 678), we examined the association between sexual orientation microaggressions and depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms in Brazilian LGB+ individuals by first ensuring the content, factorial, convergent-discriminant validity, and internal consistency of the Brazilian Portuguese version of the Sexual Orientation Microaggressions Scale (SOMS-br). The findings show that experiences of microaggressions based on sexual orientation were associated with decreased mental health in Brazilian LGB+ individuals. Moreover, the adapted items of the SOMS-br were psychometrically suitable to assess individual differences in microaggressions experienced by the Brazilian LGB+ community. Taken together, these results emphasize the psychometric validity of SOMS in measuring microaggressions in the Brazilian context. Furthermore, we provide the first evidence that sexual microaggressions impact mental health indicators in the Brazilian LGB+ community. Theoretical and practical implications of the literature are both discussed.