Minority Stress as a Multidimensional Predictor of LGB+  Adolescents’ Mental Health Outcomes

Weeks, Sean N.; Renshaw, Tyler L.; Vinal, Stephanie A.

doi:10.31234/osf.io/cxe5s

Cited by 2 publications

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“…The minority stress model [2] is a theoretical framework that has been developed to explain how and why gender and sexual minorities (including TGD youth) experience worse mental health and wellbeing outcomes than their cisgender, heterosexual peers [38]. It predicts that experiences of prejudice, discrimination, identity concealment, expectations of rejection and internalized stigma among gender and sexual minorities result in excess stress, ultimately leading to reduced wellbeing [39][40][41].…”

Section: The Influence Of Minority Stress-related Experiences On Ment...mentioning

confidence: 99%

The influence of minority stress-related experiences on mental wellbeing for trans/gender-diverse and cisgender youth: a comparative longitudinal analysis

2023

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Trans and gender-diverse (TGD) adolescents are likely to experience poorer mental health and wellbeing than their cisgender peers. Minority stress theory has developed as a possible explanation for some of this disadvantage: factors such as increased bullying and discrimination lead to excess stress and reduced wellbeing. However, the evidence base remains limited. This study drew on secondary data analysis of the #BeeWell longitudinal cohort over 2 years ( N = 26 042, aged 12–13 at time one, T1). We report two unregistered hypotheses relating to T1 (autumn 2021) data which was available at the time of stage-one submission: H1, mean differences in T1 wellbeing; H2, mean differences in T1 minority-related stressors. These are followed by two registered hypotheses relating to T2 (autumn 2022) data: H3, replication of T1 mean differences in T2 wellbeing; H4, predictions were made about the strength of the association between T1 minority-related stressors, controlling for sexuality and T2 wellbeing across T1 gender identity groups. At both time points cis-females, TGD and those who preferred not to say their gender had lower wellbeing than cis-males (CM), with the largest effect evident for the TGD group. TGD adolescents also showed the largest disadvantage (mean difference) compared with CM for minority stressors. Counter to H4 and minority stress theory, gender was not found to moderate the effect of minority stressors on later wellbeing. Our findings highlight the vulnerability of the TGD group in terms of wellbeing and minority stressors and are discussed with relevance for policy and future research.

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Section: The Influence Of Minority Stress-related Experiences On Ment...mentioning

confidence: 99%

The influence of minority stress-related experiences on mental wellbeing for trans/gender-diverse and cisgender youth: a comparative longitudinal analysis

2023

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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Gender and sexual identity-based inequalities in adolescent wellbeing: findings from the #BeeWell Study

Marquez,

Humphrey,

Black

et al. 2023

BMC Public Health

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Background Gender and sexual minority adolescents experience greater symptoms of psychological distress than their peers, but little is known about broader aspects of their wellbeing. This study examines wellbeing inequalities relating to gender and sexual identity among adolescents from Greater Manchester in the United Kingdom. Method 37,978 adolescents (aged 12–15, attending 165 secondary schools) completed surveys of life satisfaction, positive and negative affect (hedonic framework); autonomy, self-esteem, optimism, and positive relationships (eudaimonic framework); and, symptoms of distress and mental wellbeing (complete state framework). Structural correlated factors models were used to assess gender and sexual identity wellbeing inequalities. Results The magnitude of wellbeing inequalities pertaining to gender and sexual identity were routinely substantially greater than those concerning other characteristics (e.g., socio-economic disadvantage). Gender identity wellbeing inequalities followed a consistent pattern, with the largest disparities evident between gender diverse adolescents and boys. Sexual identity wellbeing inequalities also followed a consistent pattern, with the largest disparities evident between sexual minority youth (both gay/lesbian and bi/pansexual) and their heterosexual peers. Finally, variation was evident across wellbeing domains. For example, observed gender identity (boys vs. girls) and sexual identity (heterosexual vs. sexual minority) disparities were substantially greater for symptoms of distress than for mental wellbeing in the complete state model. Conclusions LGBTQ + adolescents experience lower wellbeing than their peers, and this is evident across a range of wellbeing domains. Accordingly, there is an urgent need for the prioritisation of improved prevention and intervention efforts that can better meet the needs of gender diverse and sexual minority youth, and future research should be conducted to improve understanding of the mechanisms underpinning the wellbeing inequalities observed.

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Minority Stress as a Multidimensional Predictor of LGB+ Adolescents’ Mental Health Outcomes

Cited by 2 publications

References 0 publications

The influence of minority stress-related experiences on mental wellbeing for trans/gender-diverse and cisgender youth: a comparative longitudinal analysis

The influence of minority stress-related experiences on mental wellbeing for trans/gender-diverse and cisgender youth: a comparative longitudinal analysis

Gender and sexual identity-based inequalities in adolescent wellbeing: findings from the #BeeWell Study

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