Sexual minority status and child maltreatment: How do health outcomes among sexual minority young adults differ due to child maltreatment exposure?

Protecting LGBTQ+ Children and Youth

“…Additionally, LGBTQ+ youth in this study reported more fights in school, victimization and mental health problems compared with LGBTQ+ youth who had stable housing and heterosexual youth in foster care. Similarly, in a study by Paul and Monahan (2019), maltreatment among sexual minority individuals showed strong associations with poor adult mental health (e.g., depression, anxiety, isolation, suicidal ideation), as well as fairly strong negative associations with general health outcomes (e.g., heart and lung problems) when compared to their non-maltreated peers. These researchers point to a need for protections for LGBTQ+ youth in child welfare systems and services that are affirming of their sexual orientation and gender identity expression.…”

“…Despite the risk factors that LGBTQ+ children and youth appear to exhibit for possible maltreatment by their families and by society as a whole, child welfare advocates in the U.S. and Europe and especially those in child protection have not, with a few exceptions (González Álvarez et al, 2021;Mallon, 2000Mallon, , 2020Paul & Monahan, 2019), heretofore written about, investigated or explored the incidence of abuse and neglect in this population. A careful content analysis of the child protection literature in the U.S. and Europe (Berrick, 2017;Gilbert et al, 2011;Merkel-Holguin et al, 2019) does not yield a single citation or make one reference to the level or existence of abuse or neglect which this population of children has endured.…”

“He was like, my ride or die”: Sexual and Gender Minority Emerging Adults’ Perspectives on Living With Pets During the Transition to Adulthood

“…Compared to their cisgender and heterosexual peers, SGM youth are more likely to have a negative sense of self and experience hopelessness and psychosocial development difficulties (Potoczniak et al, 2007; Saewyc et al, 2008; Safren & Pantalone, 2006; Wagaman et al, 2016). SGM emerging adults are also more likely to experience psychological (e.g., internalizing behavior symptoms, suicidal ideation; Liu & Mustanski, 2012; Mustanski et al, 2016), behavioral (e.g., substance use and dependence, risky behaviors; Dank et al, 2015; Mustanski et al, 2016), and physical health problems (e.g., obesity; Paul & Monahan, 2019). Collectively and interactively, these stressors and their effects may influence emerging adult outcomes such as the ability to secure stable housing (Cochran et al, 2002; Durso & Gates, 2012), gain and maintain employment (Ream & Forge, 2014; Sears & Mallory, 2011), and attain educational goals (Aragon et al, 2014; Kosciw et al, 2013).…”

Adolescent Sexual Development: A Family Perspective

“…In contrast to the protective aspects of positive parent-child relationships, parental rejection of SMY degrades the parentchild relationship. Quantitative studies reveal that SMY are more likely to experience psychological and physical abuse and polyvictimization in their childhood than their heterosexual peers (Baams, 2018;Paul & Monahan, 2019) and are more likely to run away or be asked to leave their home (Pearson et al, 2017). A study using two nationally representative data sets found that SMY are overrepresented in the child welfare and foster care systems (Fish et al, 2019).…”