Adolescence and young adulthood are times of discovery and transition. These changes are a common source of stress, especially for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and queer (LGBQ) youths, who find themselves dealing not only with the common struggles associated with growing up but also with the stigma, not yet fully eradicated, of being a member of a sexual minority.
Studies of the general psychological functioning and mental health of young LGBQ populations are scarce, longitudinal studies even more so. Yet there is much to be gained in identifying the sources and timing of stressors experienced by LGBQ youths: Knowing when and where to make interventions available could mitigate or avoid weakened mental health in this population.
Becker, Cortina, Tsai, and Eccles (PDF, 246KB)opens in new window, in the June 2014 issue of Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Sexual Diversity®, addressed this gap in the literature by analyzing developmental trajectories in psychological functioning from adolescence to young adulthood in nonheterosexual and heterosexual populations using data from the Michigan Study of Adolescent and Adult Life Transitions.
They found no differences in self-esteem for these two groups, but for nonheterosexual young adolescents, overall levels of depressive affect, suicidal ideation, alcohol consumption, and social alienation were elevated. The higher levels of depressive affect, social alienation, and suicidal ideation for nonheterosexual high schoolers diverged from the levels reported by heterosexual high schoolers, but the populations returned to similar levels on these indicators of mental health and social functioning after they left high school. Also after high school, their reported patterns of alcohol use began to diverge, with LGBQ young adults reporting comparatively higher levels of consumption. Interactions between sexual orientation and gender did not reach statistical significance.
The results of the study were consistent with the minority stress model and identity formation theory. The nonheterosexual group showed weaker mental health and less perceived social integration than the heterosexual group did, particularly during adolescence, when sexual minority identity is formed but fewer coping mechanisms are in place.
The findings indicate that developmental patterns of sexual minority adolescents and young adults are more complex than suggested by previous longitudinal studies, varying by domain, age, and social contexts. Future studies with larger, more diverse samples and additional measures of mental health, social functioning, and well-being will help to more fully illuminate the current issues, changing social environment, and potential interventions needed to prevent psychological distress for nonheterosexual populations.
Citation:
Becker, M., Cortina, K. S., Tsai, Y.-M., & Eccles, J. S. (2014). Sexual orientation, psychological well-being, and mental health: A longitudinal analysis from adolescence to young adulthood. Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity, 1, 132–145.
Note: This article is in the Social Psychology & Social Processes topic area. View more articles in the Social Psychology & Social Processes topic area.