Author ORCID Identifier
Date of Award
5-31-2026
Document Type
Open Access Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Department
Clinical Psychology
First Advisor
Dr. Karen L. Suyemoto
Abstract
Asian American sexually expansive people (AA SEP) are at elevated risk of psychological distress at the intersection of racism and heterosexism (Takeda et al., 2021). Less is known about how AA SEP cope with intersectional oppression, including experiences of in-race heterosexism. With a sample of 105 AA SEP, correlations indicated a positive link between psychological distress (PD; DASS-21, Lovibond & Lovibond, 1995) and racism-related stress (RRS; Brief PEDQ-CV, Brondolo et al., 2005), but not in-race heterosexism (Perceived Racism in Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Communities Scale, Sarno et al., 2015). Moderation analyses indicated only active coping buffered the relation between RRS and PDS: low to moderate levels of active coping weakened the link between RRS and PD but not at high levels of active coping (Brief COPE, Carver, 1997). Social support, awareness and relational resistance, and interpersonal confrontation did not moderate psychological distress tied to racism-related stress (Brief COPE, Carver, 1997; REAR, Suyemoto et al., 2022). Distress associated with racism for AA SEP already engaging in high levels of active coping may exceed what these strategies can effectively buffer. Moderated moderation analyses indicated in-race heterosexism did not moderate the moderating influence of coping for any coping strategy. Results suggest that active coping – intending to act, strategizing next steps, positively reframing one’s racist experiences, and acting against racism – is a central path for healing among AA SEP.
Recommended Citation
Sabas, Miah Theresse A., "Racism, Coping, and In-race Heterosexism among Asian American Sexually Expansive People: A Moderated Moderation Analysis" (2026). Graduate Masters Theses. 962.
https://scholarworks.umb.edu/masters_theses/962
Included in
Clinical Psychology Commons, Counseling Commons, Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Commons, Social Justice Commons
Comments
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