Affiliation:
1. Department of Psychology, Stony Brook University
2. Department of Psychology, University of Denver, and 3Department of Medical Social Sciences, Northwestern University
3. Department of Medical Social Sciences, Northwestern University
Abstract
Youths with marginalized identities experience minority stress, a construct linked to more severe transdiagnostic psychopathology. Financial, geographical, and temporal barriers limit access to psychological care for these individuals. Single-session interventions (SSIs), which mitigate many such barriers, are likely more accessible than traditional therapies. However, accessibility does not guarantee effectiveness across identity groups. In a preregistered study ( N = 2,452), we assessed whether demographic identities moderated the relationship between SSI condition and transdiagnostic internalizing (emotional distress) change from before SSI to after SSI in a national U.S. sample of adolescents with elevated depressive symptoms. SSI-driven internalizing-symptom reductions were equivalent between youths with myriad marginalized identities (e.g., Black, asexual, gender minority) and their counterparts (e.g., non-Hispanic White, heterosexual, cisgender) and across age and subjective school social status. We discuss implications of the results for SSI dissemination.