The long-term mental health risk associated with non-heterosexual orientation

Abstract

Non-heterosexual orientation was not a major risk factor for long-term mental health outcomes. Instead, those with a non-heterosexual orientation were more likely to experience other mental health risk factors, which explain most of the risk observed amongst those with a non-heterosexual orientation.

Mediators of the Disparities in Depression Between Sexual Minority and Heterosexual Individuals: A Systematic Review

“…The mediation was especially pronounced for boys 2. Burns et al ( 2016 ) Series of regressions A bisexual but not a homosexual orientation was found to predict increased rates of depression compared to those with a heterosexual orientation. This association was no longer significant when other significant predictors were included in the model, including social support, physical health, smoking status, and history of sexual trauma, suggesting the potential mediating role of these variables (although the authors did not describe these as mediators) 3.…”

“…Almeida et al ( 2009 ) 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 Fair 2. Burns et al ( 2016 ) 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 Fair 3. Burton et al ( 2013 ) 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 Good 4.…”

“…Almeida et al ( 2009 ) Cross sectional n = 1032 103 LGB, 929 non-LGB Public high schools Boston, USA Perceived discrimination 2. Burns et al ( 2016 ) Longitudinal n = 4824 149 LGB, 4675 non-LGB Community sample of adults Australia Major life events Social support Health and behaviors Behavioral activation and inhibition 3. Burton et al ( 2013 ) Longitudinal n = 197 55 LGB, 137 non-LGB Adolescent medicine clinics Pennsylvania and Ohio, USA Sexual minority specific victimization 4.…”

“…Further research can aim to develop a better understanding of the distinct issues and outcomes that different sexual minority groups face. For example, there is some evidence to suggest that bisexuals may have especially high risk for mental health problems (Burns et al, 2016 ; Hughes et al, 2014 ; Luk et al, 2019 ; Needham & Austin, 2010 ). Groups identifying as mostly heterosexual are also poorly understood with some research included in this review reporting similar or worse outcomes for them compared to other sexual minority groups (Corliss et al, 2009 ).…”

“…Almeida et al ( 2009 ) Age: 13–19 years ( M = 16.3, SD = 1.3) Gender: 58.3% females, 41.7% males Ethnicity: 30.7% Hispanic, 44.8% non-Hispanic Black, 10.8% Asian/Pacific Islander/biracial/multiracial/other Perceived discrimination: single yes/no item 2. Burns et al ( 2016 ) Age: 48.5% of the sample were between 20 and 24 years, 51.5% of the sample were 40–44 years Gender: 47.9% females, 52.1% males Major life events: Age first moved away from the parental home; age first moved in with first partner; age of first sex; measure of traumatic life events Social support: Estimated from a factor analysis of the Schuster Social Support Scale (Schuster, Kessler, & Aseltine, 1990 ) assessing family, partner, and friend negative/positive support Health and behaviors: Continuous Short Form-12 Physical Health Component Score that was computed following the RAND scoring (Hays, Sherbourne, & Mazel, 1993 ), and a binary indicator for Self-Rated Health Behavioral activation and inhibition: BIS – BAS , a measure of behavioral activation and inhibition (Carver & White, 1994 ) 3. Burton et al ( 2013 ) Age: 14–19 years ( M = 17, SD = 1.36) Gender: 70% females, 20% males Ethnicity: 31% White, 63% African-American, 3% other Sexual-minority specific victimization: Victimization due to actual or perceived sexual minority status assessed via four items 4.…”