Abstract
This dissertation explored challenges faced by Asian American queer women (AAQW)in interracial and intraracial relationships as they navigate intersecting marginalized
identities of gender, race, and sexual orientation. The focus was exploring the
associations between various types of intersectional discrimination, acculturation, and
enculturation with relationship satisfaction and psychological distress (depressive and
anxious symptoms and stress). Survey data was collected from a sample of 155
participants (100 individuals in interracial relationships and 55 individuals in intraracial
relationships) recruited through various social media platforms. No statistically
significant differences in relationship satisfaction, psychological distress, acculturation,
enculturation, and experiences of different types of intersectional discrimination between
AAQW in interracial and intraracial relationships were observed. Results were also non-
significant for the moderating role of racial composition of the couple on associations
between various forms of intersectional discrimination, acculturation, and enculturation
with relationship satisfaction, and psychological distress. Exploratory analyses revealed a
negative relationship between sexual racism and relationship satisfaction and a positive
relationship between enculturation and relationship satisfaction. Future research should
further explore how factors such as enculturation, sexual racism, and intersectional
discrimination shape relationship satisfaction and mental health among AAQW
individuals. Examining protective factors like resilience, social support, and cultural
identity will be essential for identifying pathways that promote well-being and for
developing culturally responsive interventions and theoretical models.