Despite the growing nonbinary population and their unique experiences, nonbinary people of color specific research remains scarce as most studies were done with predominantly white samples and failed to disaggregate transgender men and transgender women from nonbinary people. While parental acceptance and support (PAS) serve as protective factors for distal and proximal stressors-induced negative mental health outcomes among TNB youth, more research is needed to examine whether PAS play a role in nonbinary young adults of color’s mental health. Additionally, PAS may lead nonbinary young adults to internalize negative messages toward their gender identity, impacting mental health. This study aimed to examine whether PAS received by nonbinary young adults of color vary by race, whether PAS are associated with depression and suicidality, and whether these associations are mediated by internalized nonbinary negativity (INN) among nonbinary adults of color. Cross-sectional data from 174 nonbinary young adults of color were analyzed. Only parental support (PS) but not parental acceptance (PA) differed across racial groups. PAS were found to be negatively associated with depression and suicidality, but INN did not mediate the association between PS and negative mental health outcomes. Findings of this study reiterate the mental health disparities seen within the nonbinary community and serve as a call for attention to the effects of PAS in the lives of nonbinary young adults of color. Future research should inquire about the cultural values that influence PAS, ways to cultivate PAS among parents using existing cultural strengths, and the benefits of helping nonbinary young adults of color to maintain integral social support from parents.

Black individuals and transgender and nonbinary (TNB) populations encounter daily microaggressions that negatively impact their mental health. Identity pride has been shown to moderate this association for Black and TNB populations separately. Unfortunately, research has not examined the impacts of simultaneously experiencing race-based and gender-based microaggressions in populations such as Black nonbinary individuals. Given this, there remains a significant gap in understanding the mental health impacts of racial and gender microaggressions and potential buffers for Black nonbinary individuals. The current study (N = 65) aimed to evaluate the association between intersectional microaggressions (IM) and depression and anxiety in Black nonbinary adults and the potential moderating effects of Black pride and nonbinary pride. A sample of Black nonbinary individuals was obtained from a larger longitudinal study with nonbinary adults. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were run to examine the association between intersectional microaggressions and mental health outcomes and the interactions of Black pride and nonbinary pride. Results showed that intersectional microaggressions did not significantly predict depression or anxiety. Neither Black nor nonbinary pride were significant moderators of the association between IM and depression. For anxiety, results showed that Black pride was a significant moderator, such that those with higher levels of Black pride showed a stronger association between IM and anxiety. Further research is needed to investigate the impact of Black pride on anxiety and identify additional protective factors outside of pride for Black nonbinary individuals.

Interpersonal communication can facilitate or inhibit positive mental-health outcomes, depending on a large number of factors. This study investigates associations among communication behaviors, social network factors, and a mental health outcome (distress) in frenemy relationships. Frenemy relationships refer to individuals who have negative feelings toward relational partners, but their interactions are typically performed to be seen as positive. In short, individuals conceal their negative feelings toward a partner while maintaining positive interactions. Given this definition and existing literature, deceptive affection and relational aggression were two communication behaviors that are likely to occur in frenemy relationships that are likely to negatively influence mental health. Therefore, this dissertation investigated the extent to which deceptive affection and relational aggression influence distress when communicating with a frenemy. In addition, like other interpersonal relationships, frenemy relationships are embedded in larger social networks which have also been found to influence mental health outcomes, either positively or negatively. Thus, this dissertation also examined how two social network factors – social network awareness of the frenemy relationship and social network liking of the frenemy – influence distress experienced when talking with the frenemy. Two hundred and seventy-nine non-college adults accessed the survey through Amazon’s Mechanical Turk and completed an online survey through Qualtrics. The results of multiple regression analyses indicated a positive association between relational aggression behaviors and distress when communicating with a frenemy. Results also showed that social network liking and social network awareness interact to influence distress. When the social network likes the frenemy, awareness of the frenemy relationship positively is positively related to distress. When the social network dislikes the frenemy, on the other hand, awareness of the relationship makes no difference on distress. Directions for future research include a number of interesting theoretical implications that link the present results to a variety of theoretical notions and concepts.

Transgender and nonbinary (TNB) people experience elevated rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to transphobic violence, discrimination, microaggressions, and minority stress. Oppression against TNB people could also contribute to complex post-traumatic stress disorder (c-PTSD) symptoms, which arises due to exposure to prolonged and repeated trauma from a state of subordination. Nonbinary people in particular experience unique chronic minority stressors (e.g., misgendering, interpersonal invalidation) because of the assumption that gender is inherently binary. These chronic minority stressors threaten nonbinary people’s psychological and interpersonal senses of safety. This study aims to examine how misgendering and invalidation can predict PTSD and c-PTSD symptoms among nonbinary people and whether this association is moderated by pride and community connectedness. Cross-sectional data from 611 nonbinary people were analyzed using hierarchical linear regressions. Misgendering and invalidation were found to be significant predictors of PTSD and c-PTSD symptoms. However, pride and community connectedness were not significant moderators of these associations. Findings from this study contribute to the conceptualizations of traumatic stress among nonbinary people and provide considerations for more affirming trauma-informed care. Future research should explore how additional resilience factors may promote resilience and healing for nonbinary people coping with trauma.

The current study examines responses of Latinx young adult’s (n=65) perceptions, as youth, of disruptions related to the divorce of their parents. To do this, a sample of Latinx young adults who experienced parental divorce during adolescence were asked to retrospectively assess their experiences surrounding their parents’ divorce and their adherence to Latinx cultural values, ethnic socialization, and ethnic identity. Findings indicated higher levels of parental divorce disruptions experienced by participants. Additionally, association between the perceived disruptions and adherence to Latinx cultural values varied across different domains of disruptions related to the divorce. Families also appeared to engage in ethnic socialization of the youth, as the divorce did not disrupt this process. Clinical implications encourage mental health professionals to provide culturally relevant care and opportunities for ethnic identity exploration for Latinx young adult clients who are from divorced households.

Given the prevalence and severity of dating violence (DV) in our World, uncovering the long-term effects of DV is pivotal. This thesis provides information about how prior DV impacts a survivor’s future relationships. First, understanding the association between prior DV and current relationship satisfaction. Next, suggesting potential moderators between DV and current relationship satisfaction in forms of resilience. Tangible resilience strategies such as seeking therapy and obtaining an order of protection were assessed as potential moderators. As well as one’s attachment style as a predictor of how one overcomes prior DV and impacts current relationship satisfaction. A study was conducted with 218 participants from both the United States and international countries. Prior DV was a predictor of relationship satisfaction, however in the adverse way as predicted. Survivors of prior dating violence reported higher levels of current relationship satisfaction. Tangible resilience and secure attachment style were both significant moderators of the relationship between prior DV and current relationship satisfaction. These results present new ways to face the challenge of overcoming the repercussions of DV for survivors. As well as provide hope and support to all survivors of DV that their past does not have to impact their future.

Latino men who have sex with men (LMSM) may repress gay, bisexual identities due to internalized homophobia and other sociocultural influences. The impact of Latino traditional gender roles, machismo and caballerismo, have not been examined with LMSM who may or may not identify as gay or bisexual. The purpose of the present study is to examine relations between self-labeled sexual identity, sexual identity developmental status, and traditional gender norms among Latino men who have sex with men (LMSM). The sample consisted of 499 LMSM, (Mage = 30.79), who endorsed engaging in same-sex sexual behavior. Results suggest evidence of concurrent validity of The Measure of Sexual Identity Exploration and Commitment (MoSIEC) with LMSM. Also, men who identified as heterosexual reported relatively higher levels of machismo and caballerismo. Implications for sexual identity development theory and research with LMSM is provided.

Alcohol use among romantic partners is known to be related to a variety of detrimental outcomes, such as decreased relationship satisfaction and increases in conflict. However, discrepant drinking among partners may be a stronger predictor of relationship outcomes over and above the amount of alcohol use. Currently, little is known about potential differences in the within- and between-person effects and discrepancy’s effect on mood, particularly among community samples. The current study investigated the effects of both individual and partner alcohol use, as well as discrepant drinking, on mood and relationship functioning. Data were obtained from 280 heterosexual romantic couples using a measurement burst daily dairy design over the course of one year. Actor Partner Interdependence Model and Dyadic Score Model analyses were used to investigate the effect of alcohol use and discrepant drinking on mood and relationship functioning, both at the within- and between- person levels. Specifically, analyses investigated the effects of no drinking versus moderate drinking, no drinking versus binge drinking, and moderate drinking versus binge drinking. Results revealed that while binge drinking may be related to positive outcomes proximally, the cumulative effects at the between-person level are detrimental. Moreover, discrepant drinking appears most detrimental when women outdrink their partners. These findings have important implications for refining and improving upon couples-based interventions aimed at alcohol-use problems among non-clinical couples.

Almost sixty percent of adults within the United States are in a married or committed, cohabiting relationship. This study sought to examine the trajectory of relationship satisfaction over 14 consecutive days employing an ecological momentary assessment (EMA) method. Daily reports of relationship satisfaction were collected via a smartphone application developed from the LifeData platform. Phone-based interview questions posed one week after the 14-day EMA period afforded evaluation of usability and acceptability, in preparation for a much larger study of couples coping with cancer. Twenty-seven adults in a married or committed, cohabitating relationship served as participants, recruited from researchmatch.org. (These individuals were not coping with cancer.) Participants received a smartphone notification between 7:30pm and 8:30pm each day, with 45 minutes to begin recording their responses. A single item from the Dyadic Adjustment Scale (item #31) was used to assess relationship satisfaction. Findings revealed a marginally significant increase in satisfaction over the course of 14 days (b = 0.04, t = 1.85, p = .077). In addition, an intraclass correlation (ICC) value of 0.59 indicated larger between-person variability than within-person variability, suggesting that satisfaction varies more from one individual to another than it does within individuals over time. Finally, plots of mean relationship satisfaction by the standard deviation of relationship satisfaction showed lower variability in day-to-day satisfaction among those who were on average more satisfied with their relationship compared to those who were on average less satisfied. Feedback regarding convenience and ease of the application indicated favorable attitudes towards smartphone-based data collection.

Prior research has found an association between individual's resports of emotion dysregulation and experiences of stress; however, little work has been done to examine these constructs in the context of romantic relationships. To address this gap in the literature, the present study investigated the proposed association between individual reports of emotion dysregulation and experiences of internal stress. Additionally, data taken from couples' real-time conversations examined how reports of emotion dysregulation were associated with feelings about one's partner following an internal stress conversation. Data from 44 heterosexual romantic couples was used at two time points, baseline and momentary interaction data. Results did not show support for an association between emotion dysregulation and internal stress, however some support was found for an association between emotion dysregulation and negative feelings felt due to one's partner after a stressful conversation. Implications for future research are discussed.