1
|
Gattamorta K, Salerno JP, Laporte RR. Family Rejection During COVID-19: Effects on Sexual and Gender Minority Stress and Mental Health Among LGBTQ University Students. LGBTQ Fam 2022; 18:305-318. [PMID: 37151804 PMCID: PMC10162589 DOI: 10.1080/27703371.2022.2083041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
This study examines the relationship between family rejection and moderate to severe psychological distress during COVID-19 among LGBTQ university students. Data were obtained from a national cross-sectional electronic survey of LGBTQ university students (N = 565) collected in the summer of 2020. Hierarchical logistic regression models were used to examine the predictive association between increased family rejection and moderate to severe psychological distress. Respondents who reported increased rejection were more than twice as likely to report moderate to severe psychological distress, with social isolation and LGBTQ identity concealment being significant covariate predictors in the model. These results demonstrate the importance of public health, medical, mental health, and higher education stakeholders understanding the significance of LGBTQ-identity related family rejection when addressing the mental health and well-being of LGBTQ young people.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Karina Gattamorta
- University of Miami, School of Nursing and Health Studies, Coral Gables, 33124 United States
| | - John P Salerno
- University of Maryland at College Park, School of Public Health, College Park, 20742-5031 United States
| | - Roberto Roman Laporte
- University of Miami, School of Nursing and Health Studies, Coral Gables, 33124 United States
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Abstract
Although intimate partner violence (IPV) is highly prevalent among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) young adults, only little is known regarding gender identity disparities in this population. Furthermore, virtually no research has examined IPV-related help-seeking patterns among LGBTQ young adults, including whether there are gender identity disparities in these rates and whether specific services are most likely to be used by LGBTQ young adults across IPV type. Participants were 354 LGBTQ young adults (ages: 18-25, 33.6% transgender and gender nonconforming [TGNC]) who experienced IPV victimization during their lifetime. TGNC young adults experienced more identity abuse victimization and reported 2.06 times the odds of seeking medical services, 2.15 times the odds of seeking support services, and 1.66 times the odds of seeking mental health services compared to cisgender sexual minority young adults. LGBTQ young adults with physical abuse victimization reported 2.63 times the odds of seeking mental health services, 2.93 times the odds of seeking medical care, and 2.40 times the odds of seeking support services compared to LGBTQ young adults without physical abuse victimization. Finally, LGBTQ young adults with identity abuse reported 2.08 times the odds of seeking mental health services and 2.58 times the odds of seeking support services compared to LGBTQ young adults without identity abuse. These findings provide a more complete understanding of gender identity as both risk and protective factors for IPV and IPV-related help-seeking. This study also provides implications for training providers, service availability, and resource allocation for LGBTQ young adults with IPV victimization.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Laura Baams
- University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Baker AM, Jahn JL, Tan AS, Katz-Wise SL, Viswanath K, Bishop RA, Agénor M. Sexual Health Information Sources, Needs, and Preferences of Young Adult Sexual Minority Cisgender Women and Non-Binary Individuals Assigned Female at Birth. Sex Res Social Policy 2021; 18:775-787. [PMID: 34484461 PMCID: PMC8414874 DOI: 10.1007/s13178-020-00501-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/04/2020] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Young adult sexual minority women (SMW) have unique sexual health needs and higher rates of some poor sexual health outcomes compared to their heterosexual peers. Unequal access to relevant sexual health information may contribute to sexual orientation disparities in sexual health among women, but research on sexual health communication among SMW is sparse. METHODS In-depth interviews conducted in 2016-2017 investigated sexual health communication in a sample of 29 racially/ethnically diverse cisgender women and non-binary individuals assigned female at birth who were between 19 and 36 years of age and identified as a sexual minority. Data were analyzed using a thematic analysis approach that involved inductive and deductive coding to identify themes. RESULTS Three broad themes were identified: 1) sources of sexual health information; 2) sexual health information needs; and 3) preferences for sexual health information delivery. Participants discussed and critiqued the Internet, other mass media, health care providers, school-based sex education, family, and peers/partners as sources of sexual health information. Participants expressed a need for customized, non-heteronormative information pertaining to sexually transmitted infection risk and prevention. They preferred receiving information from health care providers, the Internet, and other mass media, and some also suggested school-based sex education and peer education as methods for delivering information. CONCLUSIONS Participants expressed clear desires for relevant, high-quality sexual health information delivered through a variety of channels, especially the Internet, other mass media, and health care providers. POLICY IMPLICATIONS Findings call for policies that improve provision of sexual health information through health care providers, online resources, and school-based sex education.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Allison M. Baker
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jaquelyn L. Jahn
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Andy S.L. Tan
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
- Division of Population Sciences, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Annenberg School for Communication, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Sabra L. Katz-Wise
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
- Division of Adolescent/Young Adult Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kasisomayajula Viswanath
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
- Division of Population Sciences, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Rachel A. Bishop
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
- Executive Office of Health & Human Services, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Madina Agénor
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Community Health, Tufts University, Medford, MA, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- The Fenway Institute, Fenway Health, Boston, MA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Schmitz RM, Tyler KA. The Complexity of Family Reactions to Identity among Homeless and College Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Young Adults. Arch Sex Behav 2018; 47:1195-1207. [PMID: 28687895 DOI: 10.1007/s10508-017-1014-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2016] [Revised: 06/03/2017] [Accepted: 06/08/2017] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Familial responses to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) young people's identities range on a spectrum from rejection to acceptance and these reactions strongly impact family relationships and young adult well-being. Less is known, however, about how family members' reactions may differ based on young people's contexts of socioeconomic status. Through a qualitative, life course analysis of in-depth interview data from 46 LGBTQ college students and LGBTQ homeless young adults, our study highlights the diverse, contextual nuances of young people's "linked lives" within their families. We find that the context of socioeconomic status influenced how a young person managed family rejection. Conversely, processes of familial acceptance were also connected to life course transitions that worked in some cases to enhance LGBTQ young adults' family relationships. Finally, the intricacy of familial reactions to a young person's LGBTQ identity transcended socioeconomic contexts as many respondents shared similar experiences of rejection and acceptance. These findings have implications for understanding how young people manage family relationships across different contexts of socioeconomic status and how these experiences can shape their life course trajectories. Results from this study can inform LGBTQ youth service providers by tailoring intervention programs that account for contextual social diversity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rachel M Schmitz
- Department of Sociology and Anthropology, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, 338 Social and Behavioral Sciences, Edinburg, TX, 78539, USA.
| | - Kimberly A Tyler
- Department of Sociology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA
| |
Collapse
|