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Mental health and suicidality among racially/ethnically diverse sexual minority youths

Author

Listed:
  • Bostwick, W.B.
  • Meyer, I.
  • Aranda, F.
  • Russell, S.
  • Hughes, T.
  • Birkett, M.
  • Mustanski, B.

Abstract

Objectives. Weexamined the relationships among sexual minority status, sex, and mental health and suicidality, in a racially/ethnically diverse sample of adolescents. Methods. Using pooled data from 2005 and 2007 Youth Risk Behavior Surveys within 14 jurisdictions, we used hierarchical linear modeling to examine 6 mental health outcomes across 6 racial/ethnic groups, intersecting with sexual minority status and sex. Based on an omnibus measure of sexual minority status, there were 6245 sexual minority adolescents in the current study. The total sample was n = 72 691. Results. Compared with heterosexual peers, sexual minorities reported higher odds of feeling sad; suicidal ideation, planning and attempts; suicide attempt treated by a doctor or nurse, and self-harm. Among sexual minorities, compared with White youths, Asian and Black youths had lower odds of many outcomes, whereas American Native/Pacific Islander, Latino, and Multiracial youths had higher odds. Conclusions. Although in general, sexual minority youths were at heightened risk for suicidal outcomes, risk varied based on sex and on race/ethnicity. More research is needed to better understand the manner in which sex and race/ ethnicity intersect among sexual minorities to influence risk and protective factors, and ultimately, mental health outcomes.

Suggested Citation

  • Bostwick, W.B. & Meyer, I. & Aranda, F. & Russell, S. & Hughes, T. & Birkett, M. & Mustanski, B., 2014. "Mental health and suicidality among racially/ethnically diverse sexual minority youths," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 104(6), pages 1129-1136.
    • Handle: RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2013.301749_4
    DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2013.301749
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    Cited by:

    1. Chiang, Szu-Ying & Fleming, Theresa & Lucassen, Mathijs F.G. & Fouche, Christa & Fenaughty, John, 2018. "From secrecy to discretion: The views of psychological therapists on supporting Chinese sexual and gender minority young people," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 93(C), pages 307-314.
    2. Kate Jackman & Judy Honig & Walter Bockting, 2016. "Nonsuicidal self‐injury among lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender populations: an integrative review," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 25(23-24), pages 3438-3453, December.
    3. D. Mark Anderson & Kyutaro Matsuzawa & Joseph J. Sabia, 2019. "Marriage Equality Laws and Youth Suicidal Behaviors," NBER Working Papers 26364, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    4. Jessica Dirkes & Tonda Hughes & Jesus Ramirez‐Valles & Tim Johnson & Wendy Bostwick, 2016. "Sexual identity development: relationship with lifetime suicidal ideation in sexual minority women," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 25(23-24), pages 3545-3556, December.
    5. Park, In Young & Speer, Rachel & Whitfield, Darren L. & Kattari, Leo & Walls, Eugene N. & Christensen, Candace, 2022. "Predictors of bullying, depression, and suicide attempts among youth: The intersection of race/ethnicity by gender identity," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 139(C).
    6. Anderson, D. Mark & Matsuzawa, Kyutaro & Sabia, Joseph J., 2019. "Marriage Equality Laws and Youth Mental Health," IZA Discussion Papers 12819, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    7. Perry, Seth W & Allison, Stephen & Bastiampillai, Tarun & Wong, Ma-Li & Licinio, Julio & Sharfstein, Steven S. & Wilcox, Holly C., 2019. "Rising US Suicides: Achieving Health Equity," OSF Preprints m5q64, Center for Open Science.
    8. Zaqia Rehman & Barbara Lopes & Rusi Jaspal, 2020. "Predicting self-harm in an ethnically diverse sample of lesbian, gay and bisexual people in the United Kingdom," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 66(4), pages 349-360, June.
    9. Jordon D Bosse & Lisa Chiodo, 2016. "It is complicated: gender and sexual orientation identity in LGBTQ youth," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 25(23-24), pages 3665-3675, December.

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