Sexual orientation, peer relationships, and depressive symptoms: Findings from a sociometric design

Dating and friendships in adolescence: Variation across same-sex and other-sex romantic partners

This research examined associations between dating and number of friends for rural adolescents with same-sex and other-sex dating partners using longitudinal sociometric data (N = 2826; 55% female, 87% White, mean age = 14 at baseline). In multilevel models assessing within-person change, boys gained female friends when they were in same-sex romantic relationships, compared to when they were single. In contrast, girls in same-sex relationships lost female friends and gained male friends. Adolescents in other-sex romantic relationships gained same-sex friends compared to when they were single. Results advance understanding of adolescent social and sexual development, suggesting that sexual minority adolescents find allies when dating but may struggle to maintain same-sex friendships.

The Inclusion of Other-Sex Peers in Peer Networks and Sense of Peer Integration in Early Adolescence: A Two-Wave Longitudinal Study

The main goal of the analysis presented in this paper is to examine the dynamics of including other-sex peers in the peer networks of early adolescents, aged 11 (at T1) and 13 (at T2), and the relationship between sex heterophily and changes in the sense of peer integration. The analysis was conducted using the Latent Difference Score (LDS) model with data from a representative nationwide longitudinal study in Poland (n = 5748). With reference to the dynamics related to the heterophilic process, the research confirmed that at the beginning of grade 5 of primary school, heterophily is still relatively rare, yet towards the end of early adolescence, there is a gradual shift, more strongly in girls, towards breaking through the strictly same-sex segregation and embarking on heterophilic relationships. Importantly, the LDS model-even when controlling for different measures of peer network-showed significant and positive (among both girls and boys) relations between establishing cross-sex relationships and the sense of peer integration. The results indicate that the appearance of the opposite sex in the peer network between grades 5 and 6 will improve the sense of peer integration. The findings are discussed in relation to results from other studies in the field.

Longitudinal associations between peer factors and suicidal thoughts and behaviors among sexual minority women

OBJECTIVE

Sexual minority young women endorse higher rates of suicidal thoughts and behaviors than heterosexual women, but the reasons for these disparities remain unclear. One hypothesis is that the two groups of women share peer-related risk factors, but the magnitude of effect is stronger for sexual minority women.

METHOD

We utilized 6 years of data drawn from a community sample of women (N = 2078; 26% sexual minority) to examine rates of suicidality in early adulthood, adolescent peer influences on later suicidal ideation and behavior, and whether sexual minority status moderated the impact of peer influences on suicidality.

RESULTS

Across the study period, rates of suicidality were higher among sexual minority women compared to heterosexual women. In prospective analyses, peer victimization increased risk for future suicidality whereas peer connectedness attenuated risk for the entire sample. Additionally, sexual minority status moderated the magnitude of these relationships for suicidal ideation and behavior. Specifically, the effect of peer connectedness on suicidal ideation was stronger for heterosexual women than sexual minority women, whereas the effect of peer connectedness on suicidal attempts was stronger for sexual minority than for heterosexual women. In addition, peer victimization increased risk for suicide attempts among sexual minority women.

CONCLUSIONS

This study highlights the importance of peer experiences in late adolescence for suicidality during the transition to young adulthood, and how such relations vary by sexual minority status.

Der Anteil sexueller Minoritäten in der älteren Wohnbevölkerung in Deutschland und potenzielle Assoziation zwischen der sexuellen Orientierung und depressiven Symptomen

Ziel der Studie Beschreibung des Anteils sexueller Minoritäten in der älteren Wohnbevölkerung in Deutschland und Darstellung einer möglichen Assoziation mit depressiven Symptomen.

Methodik Daten der sechsten Welle (Jahr 2017) des Deutschen Alterssurveys (n = 5133). Das Durchschnittsalter betrug 66,1 Jahre (43–90 Jahre). Die Allgemeine Depressionsskala (Kurzversion, ADS-K) wurde zur Erfassung depressiver Symptome verwendet. Es wurde zwischen Hetero-, Bi- und Homosexuellen unterschieden. In die Analysen haben wir u. a. die folgenden Kovariaten aufgenommen: Alter, Geschlecht, Partnerschaftsstatus, Wohnort, subjektive Gesundheit, körperliche Funktionsfähigkeit (kurze Skala SF-36).

Ergebnisse In der älteren Wohnbevölkerung in Deutschland identifizieren sich 92,8 % der Individuen als Heterosexuelle, 1,7 % als Bisexuelle, 1,1 % als Homosexuelle und 4,3 % als „Andere“. Bivariat zeigte sich, dass kein signifikanter Zusammenhang zwischen sexueller Orientierung und depressiven Symptomen besteht. In multiplen Regressionsanalysen bestätigte sich dieses Ergebnis.

Schlussfolgerung Unsere Ergebnisse deuten darauf hin, dass kein signifikanter Zusammenhang zwischen der sexuellen Orientierung und depressiven Symptomen in der älteren Wohnbevölkerung in Deutschland besteht.