Prospective associations of sexual minority stress and mental health among sexual minority young adults

Sexual minorities are more likely than heterosexuals to experience adverse mental health outcomes, which may be related to minority stress.  The aim of this study was to examine prospective associations between sexual minority stressors and mental health among 1461 sexual minority young adults, ages 23-28 years, who identified as sexual minorities in wave 2010 of the Growing Up Today Study.  We hypothesized that earlier timing of sexual minority developmental milestones (age of first sexual minority identification, same-gender attractions, same-gender sexual experience), greater sexual orientation mobility (changes in sexual orientation identity), and greater bullying victimization would predict greater depressive and anxious symptomatology.  Linear regression models stratified by gender and sexual orientation were separated by predictor and controlled for age and race/ethnicity.  Unstandardized regression coefficients are reported.  Female and male sexual minorities had similar levels of depressive symptoms (Females: M=8.9, SD=5.1; Males: M=9.1; SD=4.9), but females had greater anxious symptoms (M=16.8, SD=8.9) than males (M=13.7, SD=8.1), p<.001.  Earlier timing of the sexual minority identity milestone was associated with greater anxious symptoms among gay males (B=-0.48, SE=0.2).  Greater sexual orientation mobility was associated with greater depressive symptoms among mostly heterosexual females (B=2.00, SE=0.9).  Greater bullying victimization was associated with greater depressive symptoms among bisexual females (B=1.87, SE=0.8) and with greater anxious symptoms among mostly heterosexual females (B=1.84, SE=0.6).  Sexual minority stressors have a negative impact on mental health among some female and male sexual minority young adults.  More research is needed to understand protective factors resulting in differential risk among sexual minority subgroups.