Differences in Minority Stress Experiences, Mental Health, and Relationship Quality Outcomes Among Bisexual, Pansexual, and Queer Women

The majority of sexual minority women in the United States today identify as bi+. Recent research suggests that "non-traditional" bi+ labels such as pansexual and queer are being adopted more frequently than ever before, making it increasingly important to evaluate whether these women have unique needs. In the current study, we explored differences in minority stress experiences, mental health, and relationship quality outcomes by sexual identity label among women who identify with the most common bi+ labels: bisexual, pansexual, and queer. Participants were 285 bi+ cisgender women in romantic relationships. They completed online measures of minority stress (antibisexual experiences, identity concealment, disconnection from the sexual and gender minority (SGM) community, and internalized stigma), mental health (depression and anxiety), and relationship quality (satisfaction and commitment). Overall, participants reported similar experiences of minority stress and few differences in their mental health outcomes. However, there were differences in antibisexual experiences by sexual identity label, such that pansexual women reported more frequent antibisexual experiences than bisexual and queer women. There were also differences in relationship quality by sexual identity label, such that bisexual women reported higher satisfaction than pansexual women and higher commitment than both pansexual and queer women. Findings suggest that pansexual and queer women may be facing their own unique challenges, even compared to bisexual women. Clinical prevention and intervention efforts can be tailored for these women to include strategies to cope with more frequent exposure to antibisexual experiences, as well as relationship education and skill-building to promote healthy romantic relationships.

Weight change predicts college adjustment and depressive symptoms among first-year college students

ObjectiveWeight change is common during the first year of college and may be related to different outcomes for men and women. This study examined the moderating effects of gender on the association between weight change and college adjustment and depressive symptoms. Participants: One-hundred and eighty-one 18-19-year-old college freshmen (56.9% female; 84.5% Caucasian). Methods: Students completed a one-time survey about demographics, weight, college adjustment, and depressive symptoms during their second semester of college. Results: Increased weight change was associated with fewer depressive symptoms for both men and women (p < .04). For men, increased weight change was associated with better overall college adjustment, more positivity about college, less negativity about college, and less homesickness (all p < .02). Conclusions: Universities could target men and women differently in regard to weight, college adjustment, and mental health to promote a positive college experience and optimal mental health.

Relationship, marriage, and parenthood aspirations among sexual and gender minority youth assigned female at birth

This study examined aspirations for future long-term committed relationships, marriage, and parenthood in a sample of 392 racially diverse sexual and gender minority (SGM) youth assigned female at birth (AFAB) aged 16-20. Differences by gender identity, sexual identity, and race/ethnicity were assessed, as were associations with contextual variables including minority stressors, SGM community involvement, perceived partner availability, and relationship experiences. Results showed that the majority of SGM-AFAB youth viewed long-term committed relationships as important and likely, whereas only about half of participants had high aspirations to get married and have children someday. Those who did view marriage and parenthood as important perceived that it is feasible for them to achieve these outcomes someday. These constructs did not differ by race/ethnicity. There were differences by gender identity and sexual identity, such that cisgender women reported higher aspirations for marriage and parenthood than did gender minorities, and those with binary sexual identities reported higher aspirations for marriage than did those with nonbinary sexual identities. Examination of the contextual variables revealed that relationship experience variables were the most consistently associated with aspirations for committed relationships, marriage, and parenthood. In contrast, victimization and perceived partner availability were not associated with any of the family formation aspirations. As SGM individuals are increasingly granted legal rights affecting their ability to marry and form families, research is needed to help inform efforts to promote their relationship health while considering that they may have unique aspirations for relationships, marriage, and parenthood compared to the general public. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Within-person associations between romantic involvement and mental health among sexual and gender minorities assigned female-at-birth

Sexual and gender minorities assigned female at birth (SGM-AFAB) experience significant mental health disparities, making it important to identify protective factors against psychological and substance use problems in this population. We examined whether romantic relationship involvement, a well-established protective factor for mental health in heterosexual adults, is protective for SGM-AFAB young people. Using five waves of data from 488 racially diverse SGM-AFAB (ages 16-31 years at baseline), we assessed within-person associations between relationship involvement and depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and problematic alcohol and cannabis use. We tested for differences in these associations by age; sexual, gender, and racial identity; relationship status; and partner gender, and whether romantic involvement buffers the negative effects of anti-SGM victimization. Multilevel models indicated that participants reported fewer depressive symptoms, alcohol use problems, and cannabis use problems when romantically involved than when single. Romantic involvement was associated with fewer anxiety symptoms for Latinx participants only. Associations did not differ by age and were generally consistent (with some exceptions) across sexual, gender, and racial identity. Effects on substance use were stronger for long-term commitments than dating relationships. Participants reported less depression and anxiety, but more alcohol or cannabis use, when romantically involved with cisgender women than with cisgender men or gender minority partners. Together, findings suggest that relationship involvement is broadly protective of mental health among SGM-AFAB, though it may not buffer the negative effects of SGM victimization. Efforts to reduce SGM-AFAB mental health disparities should consider including strategies to support healthy relationship involvement. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Sexual Agreements Among Young Sexual and Gender Minorities Assigned Male at Birth: Associations with Relationship Quality and Break-Up

Previous studies have shown that sexual non-monogamy is not associated with lower relationship satisfaction among adult male same-sex couples and may therefore be a viable alternative to monogamy. However, sexual minority men with non-monogamous agreements have reported lower commitment and trust in their relationships than those with monogamous agreements-potentially raising their risk of break-up. In this study, we investigated whether sexual agreements (monogamous, non-monogamous, or no sexual agreement) were associated with relationship quality and rates of break-up over 1 year in a sample of 338 young sexual and gender minorities assigned male at birth (SGM-AMAB). Participants reported their sexual agreement and indices of relationship quality (satisfaction, trust, and commitment) at baseline, as well as their relationship status (intact or broken up) at 6- and 12-month follow-up. Results showed no significant differences by sexual agreement in concurrent trust, but participants with monogamous agreements reported higher satisfaction and commitment than those with non-monogamous agreements or no sexual agreement. Despite these significant differences in relationship quality, there were no significant differences in rates of break-up at 6- or 12-month follow-up across the sexual agreement types. However, having a monogamous agreement was indirectly associated with lower rates of break-up through relationship commitment. Although results were mixed, findings provide some preliminary support that young SGM-AMAB in relationships with monogamous agreements may have higher satisfaction and commitment at early relationship stages, and that monogamous agreements may be a protective factor against break-up over 1 year through the mechanism of relationship commitment.

Romantic Involvement and Mental Health in Sexual and Gender Minority Emerging Adults Assigned Female at Birth

We examined whether romantic relationship involvement, a well-established protective factor against mental health problems among heterosexual adults, is also protective for sexual and gender minority emerging adults assigned female at birth (SGM-AFAB), a group at high risk for mental health issues. Using cross-sectional data from a community sample of 222 SGM-AFAB ages 18-20 years, we assessed associations between current relationship involvement and five mental health variables: depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, alcohol use problems, cannabis use problems, and illicit drug use. There were no differences by romantic involvement in problematic cannabis use or other illicit drug use. Overall, participants in a relationship reported fewer depressive symptoms, fewer anxiety symptoms, and less problematic alcohol use than participants who were single. Some associations differed, however, by participant gender identity, sexual orientation identity, and partner gender. Specifically, relationship involvement was associated with fewer depressive and anxiety symptoms for cisgender female participants (n=154) but not for gender minority participants (n=68), and for lesbian participants (n=38) but not for bisexual/pansexual participants (n=134) or those with other sexual orientation identities (n=50). Participants romantically involved with a cisgender female partner (n=43) had fewer depressive and anxiety symptoms than single participants (n=100), those with a cisgender male partner (n=56), and those with a gender minority partner (n=23). Together, these findings suggest that romantic involvement may promote mental health for many, but not all, SGM young adults, highlighting the importance of attending to differences among SGM subgroups in research and efforts to reduce mental health and substance use disparities.

Mental health outcomes among individuals with 46,XY disorders of sex development: A systematic review

This review summarizes research on the mental health outcomes of genetic males with a disorder of sex development (46,XY DSD). Databases were systematically searched, yielding 19 studies included in this review. Results varied widely, with mental health outcomes ranging from very poor to similar to comparison groups. A small number of studies demonstrated that patients with hypospadias or complete androgen insensitivity syndrome reported better mental health than patients with other 46,XY (DSD) diagnoses. Future studies should include larger samples of patients within a similar developmental stage, display results separately by DSD diagnosis and gender identity, and consider the potential impact of medical/surgical events on their mental health.

Sequencing-based genotyping and association analysis of the MICA and MICB genes in type 1 diabetes

OBJECTIVE

The nonclassical major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I chain-related molecules (MICs), encoded within the MHC, function in immunity. The transmembrane polymorphism in MICA (MICA-STR) has been reported to be associated with type 1 diabetes. In this study, we directly sequenced both of the highly polymorphic MIC genes (MICA and MICB) in order to establish whether they are associated with type 1 diabetes independently of the known type 1 diabetes MHC class II genes HLA-DRB1 and HLA-DQB1.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

We developed a sequencing-based typing method and genotyped MICA and MICB in 818 families (2,944 individuals) with type 1 diabetes from the U.K. and U.S. (constructing the genotype from single nucleotide polymorphisms in exons 2-4 of MICA and 2-5 of MICB) and additionally genotyped the MICA-STR in 2,023 type 1 diabetic case subjects and 1,748 control subjects from the U.K. We analyzed the association of the MICA and MICB alleles and genotypes with type 1 diabetes using regression methods.

RESULTS

We identified known MICA and MICB alleles and discovered four new MICB alleles. Based on this large-scale and detailed genotype data, we found no evidence for association of MICA and MICB with type 1 diabetes independently of the MHC class II genes (MICA P = 0.08, MICA-STR P = 0.76, MICB P = 0.03, after conditioning on HLA-DRB1 and HLA-DQB1).

CONCLUSIONS

Common MICA and MICB genetic variations including the MICA-STR are not associated, in a primary way, with susceptibility to type 1 diabetes.

The candidate genes TAF5L, TCF7, PDCD1, IL6 and ICAM1 cannot be excluded from having effects in type 1 diabetes

BACKGROUND

As genes associated with immune-mediated diseases have an increased prior probability of being associated with other immune-mediated diseases, we tested three such genes, IL23R, IRF5 and CD40, for an association with type 1 diabetes. In addition, we tested seven genes, TAF5L, PDCD1, TCF7, IL12B, IL6, ICAM1 and TBX21, with published marginal or inconsistent evidence of an association with type 1 diabetes.

METHODS

We genotyped reported polymorphisms of the ten genes, nonsynonymous SNPs (nsSNPs) and, for the IL12B and IL6 regions, tag SNPs in up to 7,888 case, 8,858 control and 3,142 parent-child trio samples. In addition, we analysed data from the Wellcome Trust Case Control Consortium genome-wide association study to determine whether there was any further evidence of an association in each gene region.

RESULTS

We found some evidence of associations between type 1 diabetes and TAF5L, PDCD1, TCF7 and IL6 (ORs = 1.05 - 1.13; P = 0.0291 - 4.16 x 10-4). No evidence of an association was obtained for IL12B, IRF5, IL23R, ICAM1, TBX21 and CD40, although there was some evidence of an association (OR = 1.10; P = 0.0257) from the genome-wide association study for the ICAM1 region.

CONCLUSION

We failed to exclude the possibility of some effect in type 1 diabetes for TAF5L, PDCD1, TCF7, IL6 and ICAM1. Additional studies, of these and other candidate genes, employing much larger sample sizes and analysis of additional polymorphisms in each gene and its flanking region will be required to ascertain their contributions to type 1 diabetes susceptibility.

No evidence for association of the TATA-box binding protein glutamine repeat sequence or the flanking chromosome 6q27 region with type 1 diabetes

Susceptibility to the autoimmune disease type 1 diabetes has been linked to human chromosome 6q27 and, moreover, recently associated with one of the genes in the region, TATA box-binding protein (TBP). Using a much larger sample of T1D families than those studied by others, and by extensive re-sequencing of nine other genes in the proximity, in which we identified 279 polymorphisms, 83 of which were genotyped in up to 725 T1D multiplex and simplex families, we obtained no evidence for association of the TBP CAG/CAA (glutamine) microsatellite repeat sequence with disease, or for nine other genes, PDCD2, PSMB1, KIAA1838, DLL1, dJ894D12.4, FLJ25454, FLJ13162, FLJ11152, PHF10 and CCR6. This study also provides an exon-based tag single nucleotide polymorphism map for these 10 genes that can be used for analysis of other diseases.