Differential Patterns of Anger Expression in Response to Microaggressions Among LGBTQ Young Adults in India

Microaggressions, as subtle yet persistent forms of discrimination, exert a profound psychological burden on sexual and gender minorities. Within India, where heteronormative expectations and collectivist cultural norms persist despite legal reforms, the emotional consequences of such experiences remain insufficiently understood. This study examined the relationship between sexual orientation-related microaggressions and anger expression among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) young adults, with particular attention to subgroup variations. A cross-sectional, correlational design was employed with 160 participants aged 18-35 years, recruited through purposive and snowball sampling. Participants completed the Sexual Orientation Microaggression Scale (SOMS) and the Anger Expression Scale and data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, ANOVA, Pearson correlations, and regression analysis. Results revealed that lesbian and gay participants reported the highest levels of microaggressions, whereas bisexual participants exhibited significantly greater anger-in than transgender participants. Correlational analyses highlighted subgroup-specific patterns, including an inverse relationship between microaggressions and anger-out among lesbian participants, a positive association between microaggressions and anger-out among bisexuals, and a positive association between microaggressions and anger-in among transgender participants. Regression findings identified anger-out as the sole significant predictor of microaggressions ( β = 0.24, P = .002). These findings underscore the heterogeneity of LGBTQ experiences in India, illustrating how microaggressions differentially influence anger regulation across identities. By framing anger expression within the minority stress model, the study highlights anger as both a psychological outcome of subtle discrimination and a mechanism sustaining minority stress, with implications for clinical intervention, theory development, and structural change.