scholarly journals COVID-19 Stress and Sexual Identities

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wendy Manning ◽  
Claire Kamp Dush
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Minority ◽  
Stress Responses ◽  
Sexual Minorities ◽  
Community Support ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Economic Resources ◽  
Sexual Identities ◽  
Monolithic Group ◽  
Married Individuals ◽  
Societal Level

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted lives and resulted in high levels of stress. While the evidence at the societal level is clear, there have been no population-based studies of pandemic-based stress focusing on individuals who identify as sexual minorities. Drawing on representative data collected during the pandemic, National Couples’ Health and Time Use Study, we find that partnered (cohabiting or married) individuals who identified as sexual minorities experienced higher levels of stress than individuals who identified as heterosexual. However, variation exists observed among sexual minority adults. Although economic resources, discrimination, social and community support and health conditions are tied to reported stress levels they do not explain differentials according to sexual identity. These results provide evidence that sexual minority adults faced greater stress during the pandemic and the importance of recognizing that sexual minorities are not a monolithic group with varying stress responses to the pandemic.

Disparities in Subjective Cognitive Impairment by Sexual Orientation and Gender in a National Population Based Study of U.S. Adults, 2013–2018

2021 ◽  
pp. 089826432110464
Author(s):  
Karen I. Fredriksen-Goldsen ◽  
Hailey Jung ◽  
Hyun-Jun Kim ◽  
Ryan Petros ◽  
Charles Emlet
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Sexual Orientation ◽  
Sexual Minority ◽  
Sexual Minorities ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Population Based Study ◽  
Subjective Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Targeted Interventions ◽  
National Population ◽  
And Gender

Objectives: This is the first national population-based study to examine cognitive impairment disparities among sexual minority mid-life and older adults. Methods: Using the National Health Interview Survey (2013–2018), we compared weighted prevalence of subjective cognitive impairment by sexual orientation and gender, among those aged 45 plus, applying logistic regressions adjusting for age, income, education, race/ethnicity, and survey years. Results: Sexual minorities (24.5%) were more likely to have subjective cognitive impairment than heterosexuals (19.1%). Sexual minority women had higher odds of greater severity, frequency, and extent of subjective cognitive impairment. Sexual minorities were also more likely to report activity limitations resulting from cognitive impairment and were no more likely to attribute limitations to dementia or senility. Discussion: Cognitive health disparities are of particular concern in this historically and socially marginalized population. The investigation of explanatory factors is needed, and targeted interventions and policies are warranted to address cognitive challenges faced by sexual minorities.

scholarly journals Depression and self-harm from adolescence to young adulthood in sexual minorities compared with heterosexuals in the UK: a population-based cohort study

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽  
Author(s):  
M Irish ◽  
F Solmi ◽  
B Mars ◽  
M King ◽  
G Lewis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Young Adulthood ◽  
Sexual Minority ◽  
Sexual Minorities ◽  
Multilevel Models ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Minority Adolescents ◽  
Self Harm

Abstract Background There are few population-based cohort studies of the emergence, development, and persistence of mental health problems in sexual minorities compared with heterosexuals. We compared trajectories of depressive symptoms in sexual-minority adolescents and heterosexual adolescents from when they were aged 10 to 21 years, and examined self-harm at ages 16 and 21 years. Methods The study included 4828 adolescents born between April 1, 1991, and Dec 31, 1992, from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children birth cohort (Bristol, UK) who reported their sexual orientation when aged 16 years. Depressive symptoms were assessed with the short Mood and Feelings Questionnaire at seven timepoints between ages 10 and 21 years. A self-harm questionnaire was completed at ages 16 and 21 years. Analyses were linear multilevel models with growth curves (depressive symptoms), logistic multilevel models (self-harm in the previous year at ages 16 and 21 years), and multinomial regression (lifetime self-harm with and without suicidal intent at age 21 years). Findings At age 10, depressive symptoms were higher in sexual minorities than in heterosexuals and increased with age to a larger extent. Depressive symptoms increased at each timepoint by 0·31 points in hetereosexuals, and by 0·49 points in sexual minorities. Sexual-minority adolescents were more likely than heterosexual adolescents to report self-harm in the previous year at ages 16 and 21 years, with no evidence that this estimate decreased with age. At aged 21, sexual minorities were more likely to report lifetime self-harm (ie, on at least one previous occasion) with suicidal intent than heterosexuals. Interpretation Mental health disparities between heterosexuals and sexual minorities are present early in adolescence and increase throughout the school years, persisting to young adulthood. Prevention of these mental health problems and early intervention must be a priority.

scholarly journals Workshop: Predictors and developmental timing of mental health problems among sexual minority individuals

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Sexual Orientation ◽  
Social Anxiety ◽  
Sexual Minority ◽  
Sexual Minorities ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Poor Mental Health ◽  
Social Stressors

Abstract As consistently shown across studies from various parts of the world, sexual minority individuals (e.g., those identifying as lesbian, gay, and bisexual [LGB]) are significantly at a higher risk for depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts and behavior when compared to heterosexuals. The increased risk for poor mental health among sexual minority populations is believed to be a consequence of LGB individuals’ increased exposure to specific social stressors related to navigating a stigmatized minority identity. Studies trying to explain health inequalities based on sexual orientation have mainly focused on so-called minority stress processes, such as discrimination, internalized homophobia, expectations of rejection, and stress of concealing one’s sexual orientation. This workshop will give examples of studies from various European countries on mental health predictors and trajectories by using various approaches such as population-based sampling, longitudinal data collection, and comprehensive theoretical frameworks. Dr. Gemma Lewis (University College London, UK) will present results showing that sexual orientation-based disparities in mental health are present already in early adolescence and increase throughout the school years. Arjan van der Star (Karolinska Institutet, Sweden) will present population-based data suggesting that openness about sexual orientation is not directly linked to lower risk of depression among sexual minorities, but is instead dependent on access to social support. Conor Mahon (Dublin City University, Ireland) will present results showing minority stressors as predictors of social anxiety among sexual minority men. Associate professor John Pachankis (Yale University, USA) will present results showing that, in addition to increased exposure to social stressors, barriers to societal integration can partially explain the elevated risk of suicidality among sexual minorities. Key messages Sexual minorities are a higher risk of mental health problems, such as depression, social anxiety, and suicidality, as compared to heterosexuals and these disparities can be identified early in life. Sexual orientation-based mental health disparities seem to be based both on disproportionate stigma-related stress and a higher prevalence of general risk factors for poor mental health.

Sexual Orientation and School Discipline: New Evidence From a Population-Based Sample

2018 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 181-190 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joel Mittleman
Keyword(s):  
Minority Students ◽  
Sexual Minority ◽  
Sexual Minorities ◽  
School Discipline ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Fragile Families ◽  
Exclusionary Discipline ◽  
Data Source ◽  
Minority Girls ◽  
New Evidence

Sexual minorities’ risk for exclusionary discipline is a commonly cited indicator of the challenges that these students face. The current study addresses this issue by introducing a new data source for research on sexual minority students: the Fragile Families and Childhood Wellbeing Study. In this geographically diverse, population-based sample, I find that sexual minorities continue to face higher rates of discipline than their peers. However, this risk is highly stratified by sex: Same-sex attraction is associated with 95% higher odds of discipline among girls but no apparent discipline risk among boys. Sexual minority girls’ risk for discipline is only partially mediated by behavior, a result that is plausibly consistent with the interpretation that these students continue to face discriminatory treatment in schools.

Working with Sexual-Minority Individuals

2010 ◽  
pp. 837-868 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa M. Diamond ◽  
Molly R. Butterworth ◽  
Ritch C. Savin-Williams
Keyword(s):  
Identity Development ◽  
Sexual Minority ◽  
Minority Stress ◽  
Sexual Minorities ◽  
Minority Population ◽  
Same Sex ◽  
Psychological Issues ◽  
The Family ◽  
And Behavior ◽  
Oriented Research

The present chapter provides a review of some of the primary psychological issues confronting sexual minorities (i.e., individuals with same-sex attractions and relationships). Our goal is to provide a flexible set of preliminary questions that can be used to help sexual-minority clients to articulate their own idiosyncratic experiences and give voice to their own unique needs. We begin by addressing two of the most common and important clinical issues faced by sexual minorities: generalized “minority stress” and acceptance and validation from the family of origin. We then turn attention to the vast—and vastly underinvestigated—population of individuals with bisexual attractions and behavior, who actually constitute the majority of the sexual-minority population, despite having been systematically excluded from most prior research. We review the increasing body of research suggesting that individuals with bisexual patterns of attraction and behavior actually face greater mental health risks than those with exclusive same-sex attractions and behavior, and we explore potential processes and mechanisms underlying this phenomenon, focusing particular attention on issues of identity development and transition over the life span. We conclude by outlining a number of areas for future clinically oriented research.

Integrating Theories of Gender and Sexuality With Deviance: The Case of Prescription Drug Misuse during Sex

2021 ◽  
pp. 089124322110098
Author(s):  
Laura C. Frizzell ◽  
Mike Vuolo ◽  
Brian C. Kelly
Keyword(s):  
Prescription Drug ◽  
Prescription Drugs ◽  
Minority Stress ◽  
Sexual Minorities ◽  
Deviant Behavior ◽  
Gender And Sexuality ◽  
Drug Misuse ◽  
Identity Conflict ◽  
Prescription Drug Misuse ◽  
Sexual Identities

Social scientists have expended substantial effort to identify group patterns of deviant behavior. Yet beyond the ill-conceived treatment of sexual minorities as inherently deviant, they have rarely considered how gendered sexual identities (GSIs) shape participation in deviance. We argue for the utility of centering theories of gender and sexuality in intersectional deviance research. We demonstrate how this intentional focus on gender and sexuality provides important empirical insights while avoiding past pitfalls of stigmatizing sexual minorities. Drawing on theories of hegemonic masculinity, emphasized femininity, and minority stress together with criminological general strain theory, we demonstrate how societal expectations and constraints generate strains among GSI groups that may lead to distinctly patterned deviance, using the case of prescription drug misuse during sex. We employ thematic analysis of 120 in-depth interviews with people who misuse prescription drugs, stratified by GSI. We identify six themes highlighting distinct pathways from strain to misuse during sex for different GSI groups: intimacy management, achieving sexual freedom, regulating sexual mood, performance confidence, increased sense of control, and managing sexual identity conflict. In this article, we demonstrate the empirical and theoretical importance of centering gender and sexuality in deviance research and provide a roadmap for theoretical integration.

scholarly journals Epigenome-wide associations between observed maternal sensitivity and offspring DNA methylation: a population-based prospective study in children

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Lorenza Dall’ Aglio ◽  
Jolien Rijlaarsdam ◽  
Rosa H. Mulder ◽  
Alexander Neumann ◽  
Janine F. Felix ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dna Methylation ◽  
Stress Responses ◽  
Association Studies ◽  
Maternal Sensitivity ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Epigenetic Mechanism ◽  
Developmental Problems ◽  
Maternal Caregiving ◽  
Typical Variation

Abstract Background Experimental work in animals has shown that DNA methylation (DNAm), an epigenetic mechanism regulating gene expression, is influenced by typical variation in maternal care. While emerging research in humans supports a similar association, studies to date have been limited to candidate gene and cross-sectional approaches, with a focus on extreme deviations in the caregiving environment. Methods Here, we explored the prospective association between typical variation in maternal sensitivity and offspring epigenome-wide DNAm, in a population-based cohort of children (N = 235). Maternal sensitivity was observed when children were 3- and 4-years-old. DNAm, quantified with the Infinium 450 K array, was extracted at age 6 (whole blood). The influence of methylation quantitative trait loci (mQTLs), DNAm at birth (cord blood), and confounders (socioeconomic status, maternal psychopathology) was considered in follow-up analyses. Results Genome-wide significant associations between maternal sensitivity and offspring DNAm were observed at 13 regions (p < 1.06 × 10−07), but not at single sites. Follow-up analyses indicated that associations at these regions were in part related to genetic factors, confounders, and baseline DNAm levels at birth, as evidenced by the presence of mQTLs at five regions and estimate attenuations. Robust associations with maternal sensitivity were found at four regions, annotated to ZBTB22, TAPBP, ZBTB12, and DOCK4. Conclusions These findings provide novel leads into the relationship between typical variation in maternal caregiving and offspring DNAm in humans, highlighting robust regions of associations, previously implicated in psychological and developmental problems, immune functioning, and stress responses.

Hookup initiation and emotional outcomes differ across LGB young men and women

Sexualities ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 22 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 932-950 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryan J Watson ◽  
Yousef M Shahin ◽  
Miriam R Arbeit
Keyword(s):  
Youth Development ◽  
Sexual Minority ◽  
Minority Stress ◽  
Sexual Minorities ◽  
Coping Mechanisms ◽  
Casual Sex ◽  
Hooking Up ◽  
Gay Males ◽  
Emotional Outcomes ◽  
Media Applications

Research on hookups has grown to keep pace with new opportunities for initiations to engage in casual sex. However, most of the scholarship has been heteronormative, which is problematic because sexual minority (e.g., gay, lesbian, bisexual, queer) individuals report unique experiences in relation to their sexual experiences and health. Through minority stress, positive youth development, and grounded theory of resiliency frameworks, we studied the initiation patterns and outcomes related to hooking up among sexual minorities. Interviews were conducted with 17 participants aged 18 to 25 ( Mage = 22) in British Columbia, Canada. We found that gay males most often used social media applications to initiate hookups; bisexual young women and lesbians were most likely to use social gatherings. Despite most scholarship focusing on risks associated with hooking up, we found that outcomes of LGB young adults were more positive than negative. By way of the minority stress and resiliency frameworks, we position hookups as potential coping mechanisms in response to sexual minority stress experiences. Stakeholders should be aware of the challenges associated with hooking up for sexual minorities.

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