Sexual orientation and mental health in a US cohort of children: a longitudinal mediation study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Sexual minorities, including children, are at increased risk for adverse mental health outcomes compared to their heterosexual peers, but longitudinal studies are needed to determine the factors that explain the associations between sexual minority identification and adverse mental health outcomes during this developmental period. We examined longitudinal associations between sexual orientation and mental health over 2 years in a US cohort of children (aged 9-10 at baseline) and two explanatory factors (increased social problems such as getting teased and decreased perceived school safety). We hypothesized that beginning to identify as gay/bisexual and consistently identifying as gay/bisexual would be associated with increases in internalizing (e.g. depression, anxiety)

SUBMITTER: Feinstein BA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10841149 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature