Differences in Parental Monitoring Components and Their Associated Health Indicators Between Sexual-Minority and Heterosexual Girls

Sexual Orientation Disparities in Early Adolescent Sleep: Findings from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine associations between sexual minority status (e.g., gay or bisexual) and sleep problems in a demographically diverse, national sample of U.S. early adolescents. Methods: We analyzed cross-sectional data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study (Year 2, 2018-2020) to estimate associations between sexual orientation and sleep problems or disturbance, adjusting for confounders and testing potential mediators (depressive problems, stress problems, family conflict, and parental monitoring). Results: In a sample of 8563 adolescents 10- to 14-years-old, 4.4% identified as sexual minority individuals. Sexual minority status was associated with self-reported trouble falling or staying asleep (risk ratio [RR] = 2.24, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.88-2.68) and caregiver-reported sleep disturbance (RR = 1.50, 95% CI = 1.29-1.75). The association between sexual minority status and trouble falling or staying asleep was partially mediated by greater depressive problems, more family conflict, and less parental monitoring, whereas the association between sexual minority status and caregiver-reported sleep disturbance was partially mediated by greater depressive problems, higher stress, and greater family conflict. Conclusions: Our results indicate that sexual minority status may be linked to sleep disturbance in early adolescence. Depressive problems, stress, family conflict, and less parental monitoring partially mediate disparities in sleep health for sexual minority youth. Future research could test interventions to promote family and caregiver acceptance and mental health support for sexual minority youth to improve their sleep and other health outcomes.

Perceived parental social support and psychological control predict depressive symptoms for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or questioning youth in the United States

Salient practices in the parenting literature-support and control-have seldom been applied to understanding lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or questioning (LGBTQ) youth mental health. We examine associations among perceived parental social support, psychological control, and depressive symptoms for LGBTQ youth in the United States (n = 536; M_age  = 18.98; 48.1% women; 25.2% Black or African American; 37.1% Hispanic or Latino/a/x). Data were collected in 2011-2012. Results indicated joint effects of social support and psychological control predicting youth depressive symptoms. Multiple group analysis yielded a significant interaction of parenting practices for youth whose parent(s) did not know their LGBTQ identity. Findings support further consideration of parental support and control in relation to LGBTQ youth well-being.

A Nationally Representative Study of Sexual Orientation and High-Risk Drinking From Adolescence to Young Adulthood

PURPOSE

To determine whether peer drunkenness, parental knowledge about their adolescent's whereabouts and behaviors, and depressive symptoms contribute to sexual orientation disparities in high-risk drinking behaviors; if they do, they would be potential intervention targets.

METHODS

Longitudinal survey data from 2,051 adolescents who participated in the NEXT Generation Health Study were analyzed. Latent growth curve and longitudinal path analyses were used to test for indirect effects linking sexual orientation in 11th grade (3.4% males and 8.4% females were sexual minorities) to past 30-day heavy episodic drinking (HED) over 6 years and past year high-intensity binge drinking at 4 years after high school.

RESULTS

Sexual minority males were not more likely to engage in high-risk drinking than heterosexual males. In contrast, sexual minority females were more likely than heterosexual females to engage in HED when they were in 11th grade (Odds Ratio = 2.83, 95% confidence interval = 1.43, 5.61), in part because of lower parental knowledge. Sexual minority females also had higher depressive symptoms during the transition from adolescence to young adulthood, which in turn was associated with greater risk of high-intensity binge drinking in young adulthood. Peer drunkenness was a strong risk factor for HED and high-intensity binge drinking among both males and females.

DISCUSSION

Sexual minority females reported lower levels of parental knowledge during adolescence and higher levels of depressive symptoms during the transition to young adulthood than heterosexual females. Both factors were associated with high-risk drinking behavior, suggesting developmentally sensitive opportunities to mitigate sexual orientation disparities in high-risk drinking.

Intersectional Minority Stress and Alcohol, Tobacco, and Cannabis Use Among Sexual and Gender Minority Adolescents of Color: Moderating Role of Family Support

Purpose: We examined the associations between intersectional minority stress and substance use among sexual and gender minority (SGM) adolescents of color and the moderating role of family support on these associations. Methods: Data were from a national U.S. sample of SGM adolescents of color (N = 3423). Intersectional minority stress was assessed with the LGBT People of Color Microaggressions Scale. Results: Intersectional minority stress was associated with greater odds of recent and heavy alcohol and recent cannabis use, but not tobacco use. When examining specific domains of intersectional minority stress, racism from SGM communities was associated with greater odds of recent and heavy alcohol, and recent cannabis use, whereas heterosexism from same racial/ethnic communities was associated with greater odds of recent cigarette and cigar use. Family support was associated with lower substance use. Family support was not a significant moderator. Conclusions: Findings underscore the need to examine intersectional stressors that SGM adolescents of color experience and to bolster family supports to prevent substance use. Family support did not buffer the effects of intersectional minority stress on substance use outcomes, suggesting that other strategies, such as other forms of family support (e.g., identity-specific support) and community-level and structural changes that target reducing and dismantling oppression are needed to reduce the deleterious impact of intersectional minority stress.

A Longitudinal Study of Differences in Perceived Parenting Practices Between Sexual Minority and Heterosexual Girls

Parental warmth and control are consistent and persistent correlates of adolescent health and may be particularly important for sexual minority girls, who experience higher rates of adverse health outcomes than their heterosexual peers. Differences in perceptions of parental trust, positivity, supervision, and discipline from ages 11-17 years were examined between sexual minority and heterosexual girls using data from the Pittsburgh Girls Study, a longitudinal, community-based study. Results indicated that sexual minority girls reported lower levels of parental trust and positivity compared to heterosexual girls beginning in mid-adolescence; differences in supervision were present at age 11 years and persisted over time. Further investigation of this perceived difference is warranted given the importance of familial support for health promotion.

Same-Sex Attraction Disclosure and Sexual Communication Topics within Families

Few studies compare family communication about sex and relationships for sexual minority youth versus hetero-sexual teenagers. Further, existing studies often focus on mothers, overlooking fathers and extended family. Our survey of 952 adolescents aged 14-21 included 115 adolescents disclosing non-heterosexual attraction. Mothers offered more sexual protection methods messages to their non-SM teens, whereas fathers talked less with SM teens about risks of sex and relational sex. Most participants identified mothers, sisters, and female cousins, with male SMs having the highest number of disclosures to family members, whereas female and non-binary SMs confided in fewer family members or no one.

Parent-child Relationships and Sexual Minority Youth: Implications for Adult Alcohol Abuse

Sexual minority (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and same-sex attracted) youth and adults report elevated rates of alcohol use and abuse relative to their heterosexual peers; these differences are strongest for sexual minority girls and women. Although preliminary evidence suggests that unsupportive parenting and maladaptive parent-child relationship qualities are associated with concurrent substance use among sexual minority youth, questions remain about the long-term implications of these early familial experiences on drinking behaviors among sexual minority youth and adults. Nationally-representative prospective data (n = 14,800; 53.1% female; Wave 1 Mean age = 15.61; Wave 4 Mean age = 28.51) were used to test the longitudinal association between parent-child relationships and parental autonomy granting between the ages of 13-18, and sexual-orientation-related disparities in alcohol abuse during adulthood. The findings showed that adolescent same-sex attraction was associated with alcohol abuse during adulthood for sexual minority women and that deficits in parent-child relationship quality statistically mediated this association. No sexual orientation differences in alcohol abuse were found among men. The findings suggest that the quality of relationships with parents in early adolescence has long-lasting impact on sexual minority women's vulnerability for alcohol abuse. Early interventions that bolster supportive parent-child relationship qualities may have enduring consequences for sexual minority women's alcohol use across the life course.

Sexual- and Gender-Minority Families: A 2010 to 2020 Decade in Review

OBJECTIVE

To review research on sexual and gender minority (SGM) families-including lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, asexual, and intersex (LGBTQAI+) families- from 2010-2020.

BACKGROUND

Research on the SGM population has increased and diversified in the past decade.

RESULTS

This paper reviews three subareas that make up the majority of research on SGM families today: (1) SGM family of origin relationships, (2) SGM intimate relationships, and (3) SGM-parent families. This review also highlights three main gaps in the existing literature: (1) a focus on same-sex and gay and lesbian families (and to a lesser extent bisexual and transgender families) and a lack of attention to the families of single SGM people as well as intersex, asexual, queer, polyamorous, and other SGM families; (2) an emphasis on white, socioeconomically advantaged SGM people and a failure to account for the significant racial-ethnic and socioeconomic diversity in the SGM population; and (3) a lack of integration of SGM experiences across the life course, from childhood to old age.

CONCLUSION

The next decade should aim to examine the full range of SGM family ties, include more vigorous examinations of race-ethnicity and socioeconomic status, and develop more robust accounts of family across the life course with novel theory and data sources across the methodological spectrum.

Substance use and misuse among sexual and gender minority youth

Sexual and gender minority youth are at greater risk for substance use and misuse compared to their heterosexual and cisgender peers. This select review of the literature found that recent studies continue to document disparities in substance use. These disparities are partially explained by general and unique stressors as well as social, interpersonal, and cultural factors experienced by sexual and gender minority youth. There are many gaps in the literature, including limited research on protective factors or interventions to prevent or decrease substance use. Despite emerging empirical literature over the past two years, more research is needed to address sexual and gender minority youth's greater risk for substance use. Innovative methodologies and interdisciplinary efforts are needed to help advance our understanding of disparities in substance use in order to reduce and eliminate them and create more affirming experiences for sexual and gender minority youth.

Group-based trajectories of parent-child communication and parental knowledge between sexual minority and heterosexual girls and their associations with substance use

INTRODUCTION

Sexual minority girls (SMGs) may be at high risk for substance use partially due to anti-gay discrimination. Low levels of parent-child communication and parental knowledge may contribute to this risk. This study seeks to identify parent-child communication and parental knowledge trajectories, determine the likelihood of SMGs following these trajectories, and describe the relationships between these trajectories, sexual orientation, and substance use.

METHODS

This is a secondary data analysis of the Pittsburgh Girls Study (N = 2450), a longitudinal study on the changes in behaviors among girls throughout childhood. We generated group trajectory models of parentchild communication and parental knowledge starting from age 12 to age 17 years. We then tested the likelihood of SMGs belonging to these group trajectories and the association between group trajectory membership and substance use at age 18 years.

RESULTS

SMGs were more likely than were heterosexual girls to follow the infrequent decreasing parent-child communication trajectory and the slowly decreasing parental knowledge trajectory and were more likely than were heterosexual girls to engage in substance use at age 18 years. Parent-child communication and parental knowledge trajectories were statistically significant mediators between sexual orientation and substance use.

CONCLUSION

Frequency of parent-child communication and levels of parental knowledge may be determinants of substance use among SMGs. These results have implications for developing substance use prevention programs among sexual minority youth targeting parent-child relationships.