Concordance Between Minoritized Status and Identity Importance: Relationship with Life Satisfaction and Depression
Research Poster Social & Behavioral Sciences 2025 Graduate ExhibitionPresentation by Roua Daas
Exhibition Number 135
Abstract
Objectives: While individuals may claim several minoritized identities, the extent to which these identities are important to their self-concept can vary considerably. Whether or not individuals reflect a concordance between these aspects of their identity (claiming a specific minoritized status(es) and indicating that same status(es) as important to how one views themselves and/or how others view them), may have meaningful consequences for psychological outcomes. Methods: To test this notion, we examined differences in life satisfaction and depression among those with concordant/discordant identities across two different studies with racially, sexually, and gender minoritized participants (NStudy1a = 419, NStudy1b = 303). Results: Results found that racially minoritized individuals with concordant identities have greater life satisfaction than those with discordant identities, while sexually minoritized, as well as sexually and gender minoritized individuals with concordant identities, have worse life satisfaction and are more depression than those with discordant identities. Conclusions: This study offers initial evidence of the role that identity concordance can play in life satisfaction and depression outcomes as well as how this role may differ depending on whether the stigmatized identities are concealable (sexually and gender minoritized individuals) versus non-concealable (racially minoritized individuals).
Importance
This study examines associations between identity concordance/discordance and life satisfaction and depression in racially, sexually, and gender minoritized populations. The present findings expand on previous work that has focused solely on identity as it is important to an individual’s self-concept by presenting a feminist conception of identity which values both how one views themselves as well as how others view them. In order to develop effective interventions for mental health concerns in minoritized populations, it is important to understand the various factors, including identity-linked processes, which may have important mental health implications. This study explores one mechanism by which identity processes may impact life satisfaction and depression outcomes as well as how this role may differ across various minoritized populations.
DEI Statement
The present work is an interdisciplinary study, using feminist conceptualizations of identity to examine mental health of racially, sexually, and gender minoritized populations. Identity concordance captures that while an identity may not be important to an individual’s self-concept, they may believe it to be important to how others interact with them, making it important to their identity overall. This is especially important for individuals who hold minoritized identities and are more likely to be discriminated against or whose life experiences may be greatly shaped by others' perception. Moreover, the results of this study present opposing trends between different minoritized groups, contributing to literature which underscores the importance of understanding differences between minoritized groups, rather than treating them as a monolith.