Unseen and unheard: Associations of microaggressions, mental health, and wellbeing in Asexual individuals
摘要
Whereas the Asexual community has become increasingly visible through evolving literature and media representation, Asexual individuals continue to face significant challenges due to misconceptions and a lack of understanding about their sexual orientation. These misconceptions contribute to various forms of microaggressions, adversely affecting mental health and general health/social well-being. This study explores the link of microaggressions on the mental health and general physical health of Asexual individuals. Participants (N = 119) were recruited via Amazon MTurk and completed measures assessing experiences of microaggressions, depressive symptoms, and general physical health. Results indicated that greater perceived representation of Asexual individuals in prestigious employment significantly predicted better general physical health (β = 7.17, p < .05), while overall Asexual microaggressions significantly predicted increased depressive symptoms (β = 0.42, p < .001). In contrast, greater representation of Asexual individuals in prestigious employment was associated with lower depressive symptoms (β = -0.37, p < .05). These findings highlight the potential pathways by which microaggressions may affect general health/well-being of Asexual individuals, emphasizing the need for greater societal awareness and acceptance of Asexuality to buffer against negative health outcomes.