Date of Graduation
Spring 2023
Degree
Master of Science in Psychology
Department
Psychology
Committee Chair
Dana Paliliunas
Abstract
The current thesis includes two studies that account for aspects of LGBTQIA2S+ experiences. The first study explored verbal behavior involved in stereotyping. Relational Density Theory (RDT; Belisle & Dixon, 2020) offers a model for conceptualizing relational strength of environmental stimuli, such as those contributing to stereotypes based on sexuality. Participants in the present study completed a multidimensional scaling procedure using an RDT framework by rating the degree of relatedness between stimulus pairings. Stimuli included a series of sexualities (e.g., gay man), as well as adjectives (e.g., masculine). A brief Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT; Hayes, 2004) based defusion exercise was utilized to weaken relational classes involved in stereotyping. Participant responses indicated that straight men are perceived as more natural, realistic, masculine, monogamous, and athletic compared to straight women, gay men, lesbian women, bisexual men, and bisexual women. After completing a defusion intervention, changes were observed in relational classes in which all identity stimuli were seen as highly related to one another. The second line of research in this thesis explored experiences of well-being in LGBTQIA2S+ college students enrolled at a Midwestern university in the United States. This correlational procedure indicated that LGBTQIA2S+ students reported lower psychological flexibility, student well-being, self-compassion, perceived social support, and GPA when compared to non-LGBTQIA2S+ students. Both of these studies highlight a significant need for more initiatives involving support and inclusion for LGBTQIA2S+ individuals involving efforts at all levels of high-impact systems such as universities.
Keywords
LGBTQIA2S+, stereotypes, sexual orientation, gender identity, relational frames, relational density, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, defusion, social support, inclusion
Subject Categories
Applied Behavior Analysis | Clinical Psychology | Community Psychology
Copyright
© Breanna Ashtyn Lee
Recommended Citation
Lee, Breanna Ashtyn, "Supporting LGBTQIA2S+ College Students: Psychological Flexibility and Promoting Verbal Behavior of Support and Inclusion" (2023). MSU Graduate Theses. 3870.
https://bearworks.missouristate.edu/theses/3870
Open Access
Included in
Applied Behavior Analysis Commons, Clinical Psychology Commons, Community Psychology Commons
