Journal Article

Mental Health and Suicidality Among Racially/Ethnically Diverse Sexual Minority Youths

Russell, Stephen, Meyer, Ilan, Birkett, Michelle, Mustanski, Brian, Aranda, Frances, Hughes, Tonda, Bostwick, Wendy B.

2014

Overview

Objectives. We examined the relationships among sexual minority status, sex, and mental health and suicidality, in a racially/ethnically diverse sample of adolescents. Methods. Using pooled data from 2005 and 2007 Youth Risk Behavior Surveys within 14 jurisdictions, we used hierarchical linear modeling to examine 6 mental health outcomes across 6 racial/ethnic groups, intersecting with sexual minority status and sex. Based on an omnibus measure of sexual minority status, there were 6245 sexual minority adolescents in the current study. The total sample was n = 72 691. Results. Compared with heterosexual peers, sexual minorities reported higher odds of feeling sad; suicidal ideation, planning and attempts; suicide attempt treated by a doctor or nurse, and self-harm. Among sexual minorities, compared with White youths, Asian and Black youths had lower odds of many outcomes, whereas American Native/Pacific Islander, Latino, and Multiracial youths had higher odds. Conclusions. Although in general, sexual minority youths were at heightened risk for suicidal outcomes, risk varied based on sex and on race/ethnicity. More research is needed to better understand the manner in which sex and race/ethnicity intersect among sexual minorities to influence risk and protective factors, and ultimately, mental health outcomes.

• Publisher: American Public Health Association
• Subject: Adolescent / Adolescents / Adult and adolescent clinical studies / Behavior / Biological and medical sciences / Black white relations / Continental Population Groups - psychology / Continental Population Groups - statistics & numerical data / Cultural differences / Ethnic groups / Ethnic Groups - psychology / Ethnic Groups - statistics & numerical data / Ethnicity / Female / Gays & lesbians / General aspects / Health status / Heterosexuality / Hispanic Americans / Homosexuality, Female - psychology / Homosexuality, Female - statistics & numerical data / Homosexuality, Male - psychology / Homosexuality, Male - statistics & numerical data / Humans / Jurisdiction / Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender Persons / Linear analysis / Male / Medical sciences / Mental Health / Mental Health - statistics & numerical data / Minority & ethnic groups / Minority groups / Minority Groups - psychology / Minority Groups - statistics & numerical data / Miscellaneous / Multiculturalism & pluralism / Other Child And Adolescent Health / Other Race/Ethnicity / Pacific Islander people / Protective factors / Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry / Psychopathology. Psychiatry / Public health / Public health. Hygiene / Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine / Race / Research and Practice / Risk behavior / Risk Factors / Risk taking / Self destructive behavior / Self injury / Sexual minorities / Sexual orientation / Sexuality / Studies / Suicidal behavior / Suicidal Ideation / Suicide / Suicide, Attempted - statistics & numerical data / Suicides & suicide attempts / Teenagers / Transgender persons / United States - epidemiology