Substance Use and Mental Health Disparities among Sexual Minority Girls: Results from the Pittsburgh Girls Study

Sexual minority youth is a broad term that includes adolescents from both sexual orientation and gender minorities. As a major task of adolescence is identity formation, sexual minority youth are particularly vulnerable during this period of self-definition (‘coming out’) both because of societal stigma and traditionally poor parental support. This chapter will start by defining the common terms used by the diverse identities in this population and outlining basic concepts in sexual orientation and gender identity. The literature demonstrating the central role of stigma in creating the mental health disparities of sexual minority youth will be reviewed. As stigma is present at individual, interpersonal, and structural levels, the chapter will conclude with a discussion of the multiple multi-level interventions necessary to have an impact on these disparities. Policymakers and clinicians are uniquely positioned to have a powerful impact on the mental health disparities of sexual minority youth.

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Mental-health disparities between heterosexual and sexual-minority adolescents: Examining the role of informant discrepancies

Journal of Adolescence ◽

10.1016/j.adolescence.2020.01.006 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 79 ◽

pp. 122-127

Author(s):

Francisco Perales ◽

Alice Campbell ◽

Sarah Johnson

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Disparities ◽

Sexual Minority ◽

Informant Discrepancies ◽

Mental Health Disparities ◽

Minority Adolescents

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Exploring Discrimination and Mental Health Disparities Faced By Black Sexual Minority Women Using a Minority Stress Framework

Psychology of Women Quarterly ◽

10.1177/0361684314560730 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 39 (3) ◽

pp. 287-304 ◽

Cited By ~ 52

Author(s):

Sarah K. Calabrese ◽

Ilan H. Meyer ◽

Nicole M. Overstreet ◽

Rahwa Haile ◽

Nathan B. Hansen

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Disparities ◽

Sexual Minority ◽

Minority Stress ◽

Minority Women ◽

Mental Health Disparities ◽

Sexual Minority Women

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Sexual Minority Mental Health

10.31234/osf.io/2y8xh ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Brooke G. Rogers ◽

Audrey Harkness ◽

Craig Anthony Rodriguez-Seijas

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Disparities ◽

Emotional Disorders ◽

Sexual Minority ◽

Minority Stress ◽

Mental Health Disparities ◽

Minority Communities ◽

Minority Mental Health ◽

The Social ◽

Evidence Based Treatments

Sexual minority clients are more likely to experience emotional disorders and other psychiatric conditions than the general population. This health disparity is not attributable to an individual's sexual minority identity, but rather, the social milieu that produces a unique set of stigma-related stressors. Therefore, mental health disparities affecting sexual minority communities are best understood through a minority stress framework. This chapter outlines mental health disparities affecting sexual minority communities, tailored evidence-based treatments, and clinical considerations for working with sexual minority clients. We hope this chapter can offer pragmatic guidance on how best to tailor intervention approaches given the unique needs and lived experiences of this population.

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