Sexual and Gender Minority Microaggressions Towards Adolescents (1 CE)

Number of Credits: 1

This course is for:  Clinical psychologists, counselors, school psychologists, and LMFTs

Course By: Michael Parent, PhD

Content By: Gartner, R. E., & Sterzing, P. R. (2018). Social ecological correlates of family-level interpersonal and environmental microaggressions toward sexual and gender minority adolescents. Journal of Family Violence, 33, 1-6.

Course Description: Microaggressions are intentional or unintentional indignities that communicate slights or insults toward oppressed groups. A study of 1,177 sexual and gender minority adolescents (SGMA) was conducted. The researchers collected data on interpersonal and environmental microaggressions and individual, family, and structural factors that may be potentially related to microaggressions. A regression analysis indicated that family-level microaggressions were associated with age, being transgender or genderqueer, gender role nonconformity, outness to parents, prior child maltreatment, and family religiosity. Environmental microaggressions were associated with age, non-violent adversity, prior child maltreatment, family religiosity, and lack of state-level legal protections. The authors identify that non-cisgender SGMA are at risk for experiencing interpersonal and environmental microaggressions. Future research may examine the mental and behavioral health implications of family microaggressions.

Learning Objectives:

• Define microaggressions and explain the differences between interpersonal and environmental microaggressions.
• Identify the components of the social ecological model for interpersonal and environmental microaggressions
• Evaluate the results of the study and identify the significant predictors of microaggression experiences

Course Outline:

1. Read and understand Social ecological correlates of family-level interpersonal and environmental microaggressions toward sexual and gender minority adolescents.
2. Review the Course Description and Learning Objectives.
3. Review the concept of microaggressions and how they may occur within families.
4. Complete the post-test questions. Recall that answers should be based on the referenced article.
5. Return to the referenced article for any missed questions and/or to understand use of family-level microaggressions toward SGMA.