Online Program

331540
Prospective associations of sexual minority stress and mental health among sexual minority young adults


Monday, November 2, 2015

Sabra L. Katz-Wise, PhD, Division of Adolescent/Young Adult Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA
Jerel Calzo, PhD, Division of Adolescent/Young Adult Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA
Margaret Rosario, PhD, Department of Psychology, The City University of New York - City College and Graduate Center, New York, NY
Emily A. Scherer, PhD, Department of Community and Family Medicine, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH
Vishnudas Sarda, MBBS, MPH, Division of Adolescent/Young Adult Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA
S. Bryn Austin, ScD, Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA
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.

Learning Areas:

Public health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
Describe prospective associations between sexual minority stressors and mental health among sexual minority young adults.

Keyword(s): Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT), Mental Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am trained as a developmental psychologist and social epidemiologist. I have been conducting research with the LGBTQ population since 2009. My research expertise is in sexual orientation and gender identity development, LGBTQ health disparities among adolescents and young adults, and psychosocial functioning of families with transgender youth.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 3307.0: Relevant LGBT Topics 1