UC Santa Barbara

The COVID-19 pandemic magnified long-standing disparities among multiply minoritized communities and marked a historic rise in widespread awareness of systemic injustice, especially in the context of the Black Lives Matter social movement. The current dissertation explored the role of this awareness, via critical consciousness, among Latinx Sexual and Gender Minority (SGM) individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were analyzed using Latent Profile Analysis (LPA) to identify “profiles” or groups of participants with similar endorsement of critical consciousness variables. Further, covariates regarding economic distress during the pandemic and everyday discrimination further specified the nature of each profile. To gain additional insight into the mental health consequences of group membership, profiles were then compared to identify differences in depression, anxiety, alcohol use, and drug use. Results indicated support for a three-profile model, consisting of Blissfully Ignorant, Aware Inactivist, and Engaged Activist. Further, significant differences in mental health outcomes were observed among the profiles. Participants in the Aware Inactivist and Engaged Activist profiles endorsed higher rates of depression and anxiety compared to the Blissfully Ignorant profile. Additionally, the Engaged Activists self-reported significantly higher alcohol and drug use compared to the other two profiles. This study differentiated awareness of injustice from participation in activism, highlighting the complexities of critical consciousness and activism for multiply marginalized communities. Further reflections on main findings and implications for future research are discussed.