Changes in disclosure stress and depression symptoms in a sample of lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth

Same-Sex Kissing and Having a Gay or Lesbian Child: A Bridge Too Far? Parent-Child Similarities in Homophobic Attitudes and Observed Parental Discomfort

This study examined parent-child similarities in homophobic attitudes and observed parental discomfort with coming-out vignettes in interactions with their adolescent children (14-18 years old). Based on gender schema theory and the family process model we expected parent-child similarities in homophobic attitudes to be stronger in same-gender dyads. Further, we expected that observed parental discomfort with coming-out vignettes would occur and is stronger when the gender of the parent, child, and character in the vignette match. We used questionnaires and observation data from 199 White Dutch families in the Netherlands. Our results showed that parents' homophobic attitudes were associated with their children's homophobic attitudes. For same-sex kissing and (imagining) having a gay son, these associations were stronger between parents and children of the same gender. Further, parental discomfort with coming-out vignettes occurred and was stronger when parents and children had the same gender, regardless of the gender of the vignette character. In conclusion, policies aiming at gay and lesbian inclusion should not be limited to accepting gay/lesbian identities, but also pay attention to the acceptance of same-sex intimacy expressions, having gay or lesbian family members, and normalizing discussions about gay/lesbian lives.

Trajectories of Gender Identity and Depressive Symptoms in Youths

Importance

Concerns about the mental health of youths going through gender identity transitions have received increased attention. There is a need for empirical evidence to understand how transitions in self-reported gender identity are associated with mental health.

Objective

To examine whether and how often youths changed self-reported gender identities in a longitudinal sample of sexual and gender minority (SGM) youths, and whether trajectories of gender identity were associated with depressive symptoms.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This cohort study used data from 4 waves (every 9 months) of a longitudinal community-based study collected in 2 large cities in the US (1 in the Northeast and 1 in the Southwest) between November 2011 and June 2015. Eligible participants included youths who self-identified as SGM from community-based agencies and college groups for SGM youths. Data analysis occurred from September 2022 to June 2023.

Exposure

Gender identity trajectories and gender identity variability.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The Beck Depression Inventory for Youth (BDI-Y) assessed depressive symptoms. Gender identity variability was measured as the number of times participants' gender identity changed. Hierarchical linear models investigated gender identity trajectories and whether gender identity variability was associated with depressive symptoms over time.

Results

Among the 366 SGM youths included in the study (mean [SD] age, 18.61 [1.71] years; 181 [49.4%] assigned male at birth and 185 [50.6%] assigned female at birth), 4 gender identity trajectory groups were identified: (1) cisgender across all waves (274 participants ), (2) transgender or gender diverse (TGD) across all waves (32 participants), (3) initially cisgender but TGD by wave 4 (ie, cisgender to TGD [28 participants]), and (4) initially TGD but cisgender by wave 4 (ie, TGD to cisgender [32 participants]). One in 5 youths (18.3%) reported a different gender identity over a period of approximately 3.5 years; 28 youths varied gender identity more than twice. The cisgender to TGD group reported higher levels of depression compared with the cisgender group at baseline (Β = 4.66; SE = 2.10; P = .03), but there was no statistical difference once exposure to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender violence was taken into account (Β = 3.31; SE = 2.36; P = .16). Gender identity variability was not associated with within-person change in depressive symptoms (Β = 0.23; SE = 0.74; P = .75) or the level of depressive symptoms (Β = 2.43; SE = 2.51; P = .33).

Conclusions

These findings suggest that gender identity can evolve among SGM youths across time and that changes in gender identity are not associated with changes in depressive symptoms. Further longitudinal work should explore gender identity variability and adolescent and adult health.

Sexual Identity Disclosure and Alcohol Experiences Among LGBTQ+ Adolescents

Sexual and gender minority youth (SGMY) report greater alcohol use in comparison to their heterosexual counterparts. Prior research has found that elevated alcohol use among SGMY can be explained by minority stress experiences. Sexual identity outness may be another factor that drives alcohol use among SGMY, given that outness is associated with alcohol use among older sexual and gender minority samples. We examined how patterns of sexual identity outness were associated with lifetime alcohol use, past-30-day alcohol use, and past-30-day heavy episodic drinking. Data were drawn from the LGBTQ National Teen Survey (N = 8884). Participants were SGMY aged 13 to 17 (mean age = 15.59) years living in the US. Latent class analysis was used to identify sexual identity outness patterns. Multinomial regressions were used to examine the probability of class membership by alcohol use. Six outness classes were identified: out to all but teachers (n = 1033), out to siblings and peers (n = 1808), out to siblings and LGBTQ+ peers (n = 1707), out to LGBTQ+ peers (n = 1376), mostly not out (n = 1653), and very much not out (n = 1307). SGMY in classes characterized by greater outness to peers, friends, and family had greater odds of lifetime alcohol use compared with SGMY in classes characterized by lower outness. These findings suggest that SGMY with greater sexual identity outness may be a target for alcohol use prevention programming. Differences in sexual identity outness may be explained by minority stress factors.

Stress of being outed to parents, LGBTQ family support, and depressive symptoms among sexual and gender diverse youth

Limited scholarship has explored how a lack of agency in identity disclosure (being "outed") to parents is associated with mental health experiences of sexual and gender diverse youth (SGDY). With a national sample of SGDY (N = 9272; 66.8% White non-Hispanic) aged 13-17 (Mage  = 15.63, SD = 1.24), this study first compared social position differences between SGDY who were outed to their parents compared to those not outed, and second, investigated how the stress from being outed to parents was associated with LGBTQ family support and depressive symptoms. Results revealed that SGDY who were outed to their parents reported higher levels of depressive symptoms and lower amounts of LGBTQ family support than SGDY who were not outed to their parents. In addition, greater stress from being outed to parents was indirectly associated with higher depressive symptoms through lower LGBTQ family support. These relationships significantly varied across gender identity. Findings highlight the importance of instilling greater agency in disclosure experiences among SGDY.

Leisure-time management and subjective well-being among older adults: A three-wave longitudinal survey

AIM

As older adults have longer leisure time and the types and influences of leisure activities they participate in are diverse, appropriate management of their leisure time would be important to optimize their subjective well-being. Although greater use of time management in educational and occupational settings is associated with better job performance, academic achievement, and the well-being of workers and students, few studies have investigated time management in leisure settings. This study aimed to examine the longitudinal association between leisure-time management and subjective well-being among older adults.

METHODS

Data on 879 individuals in Nada Ward, Kobe, Japan were obtained from a three-wave questionnaire-based longitudinal survey (Wave 1: December 2017 to January 2018; Wave 2: after one year; Wave 3: after three years). In each survey, leisure-time management (newly developed in this study) and subjective well-being (simplified Japanese version of the World Health Organization Five Well-Being Index) were measured. This study used a cross-lagged model to analyze the longitudinal association between leisure-time management and subjective well-being after considering their inverse association.

RESULTS

The cross-lagged model indicated that that the standardized path coefficients from leisure-time management in Wave 1 to subjective well-being in Wave 2 (0.13, p<0.001) and from leisure-time management in Wave 2 to subjective well-being in Wave 3 (0.06, p=0.042) were positive and significant.

CONCLUSIONS

This study found that leisure-time management is a determinant of subjective well-being among older adults. This finding indicates that the management of leisure time elevates one's subjective well-being among them.

Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity/Expression in Adolescent Research: Two Decades in Review

There is a long history of research among adolescents who are minoritized and marginalized for their sexual orientation and gender identity/expression (SOGIE). However, it remains unclear how we can best conceptualize and assess SOGIE in adolescence, resulting in different subpopulations and findings across studies. Addressing this issue, we present a narrative literature review of the conceptualization and assessment of SOGIE, and provide recommendations for conceptualizing and operationalizing these concepts. Our review indicated that most research with adolescent populations still almost exclusively assesses isolated dimensions of sexuality and gender (e.g., attraction but not identity). We argue that to make research inclusive and equitable, scholars are required to make clear substantiated decisions and be transparent about the SOGIE dimensions and, thus, subpopulations they represent.

The paradox of progress for sexual and gender diverse youth

In this essay, we explore diversity in sexual and gender identities, with a focus on implications of the current politicized moment for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or questioning youth. As youth come out at younger ages, their personal identity development collides with the adolescence period characterized by peer influence, stigma, and possible victimization. We consider the changing and diverse experiences of coming out in adolescence for sexual and gender diverse youth. The current social and political moment offers possibilities for new identities, yet anti-LGBTQ + legislative and policy actions have crucial implications for health and wellbeing for youth.

Sexual and Gender Identity-Based Microaggressions: Differences by Sexual and Gender Identity, and Sex Assigned at Birth Among Dutch Youth

Research describes several sexual and gender identity-based microaggressions that sexual and gender minority (SGM) people might experience. We aimed to examine the occurrence of different sexual and gender identity-based microaggressions among SGM youth and to identify differences by sexual and gender identity, and sex assigned at birth. Open-ended questions about daily experiences were coded for 16 types of sexual and gender identity-based microaggressions in two daily diary studies among Dutch SGM youth (Study 1: N = 90, M age = 17.64 SD = 1.78; Study 2: N = 393, M age = 18.36 SD = 2.65). Several types of microaggressions were identified, and there was sizable variability in the reported frequency. Overall, lesbian women and bisexual youth were less likely to report microaggressions than gay youth. Bisexual youth were less likely to report use of heterosexist or transphobic terminology than gay youth and youth assigned male at birth were less likely to report invalidation of LGBTQ identity than youth assigned female at birth. Last, gender minority youth were more likely to report familial microaggressions, invalidation of LGBTQ identity, and threatening behaviors than cisgender youth. Overall, this study provides empirical support using mixed qualitative and quantitative methods for theorized typologies of microaggressions among Dutch SGM youth.

Exploring the microaggression experiences of LGBTQ+ community for a culturally safe care: A descriptive qualitative study

BACKGROUND

Microaggressions, stigma and minority stress still occur among sexual and gender minorities on an individual, interpersonal, and structural level. Cultural immersion may therefore be an effective strategy in order to find potential healthcare approaches and foster more comprehensive, critical, intersectional, and inclusive care practices.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to develop insight into the experiences of LGBTQ+ community members to obtain in-depth perceptions of microaggressions and an understanding of their healthcare needs to provide a culturally safe and sensitive care.

DESIGN

A qualitative descriptive study was conducted between September to November 2021.

SETTINGS

This study was conducted at the University of Almeria with LGBTQ+ community members.

PARTICIPANTS

Twenty-one LGBTQ+ individual participated in this study, aged between 18 and 56 years old.

METHODS

Participants were recruited using a purposive sampling. Responses from semi-structured interviews were studied using a thematic analysis. Methods and findings are reported in line with Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research recommendations.

RESULTS

Three themes emerged from the qualitative analysis: (i) experiences to understand the impact of a heteronormative society, (ii) perceptions of engaging with health education and promotion, and (iii) healthcare access, use and experiences within the LGTBQ+ community.

CONCLUSIONS

This study yields findings about the difficulties that LGBTQ+ community members face in the healthcare system in order to ensure equal care for vulnerable communities and integrate a culturally safe care approach into nursing practice. Certain microaffirmation strategies against social determinants of health such as school-based nursing strategies can help to raise awareness and knowledge among heterosexual peers and reduce cultural invisibility, microaggressions, stigma and minority stress. In order to provide culturally safe care, educators might also explore the inclusion of gender and sexual minority care content in both in-faculty education and ongoing continuing education for nurse practitioners.

Complex Outness Patterns Among Sexual Minority Youth: A Latent Class Analysis

Prior scholarship has documented health-relevant consequences of sexual minority youth (SMY) sexual identity disclosure (i.e., "outness"), yet most of the extant work focuses on one social context at a time and/or measures outness as dichotomous: out or not out. However, SMY are out in some contexts (e.g., family, friends) and not in others, and to varying degrees (e.g., to some friends, but not to all). Using a national sample of 8884 SMY ages 13-17 (45% cisgender female, 67% White, 38% gay/lesbian and 34% bisexual, and 36% from the U.S. South), this study used latent class analysis to identify complex patterns of outness among SMY, as well differences in class membership by demographics, depression, family rejection, and bullying. The results indicated six distinct classes: out to all but teachers (n = 1033), out to siblings and peers (n = 1808), out to siblings and LGBTQ peers (n = 1707), out to LGBTQ peers (n = 1376), mostly not out (n = 1653), and very much not out (n = 1307). The findings reveal significant differences in class membership by age, sexual identity, gender identity, race and ethnicity, geography, and well-being outcomes. Moreover, these findings underscore the complex role of outness across social contexts in shaping health and well-being.