A Latent Profile Analysis of Social Support, Online Contacts, and Preference for Online Communication Among Same- and Both-Sex Attracted and Other-Sex Attracted Adolescents.

This study aimed to assess differences between other-sex attracted and same- and both-sex attracted adolescents in profiles of peer and family social support, online contacts, and preferences for online communication. Data stem from the 2017 Dutch "Health and Behavior in School-Aged Children" (HBSC) survey (N = 6,823; 4.0% same- and both-sex attracted; M age=14.73, SD = 1.59, range = 12-18). We conducted latent profile analyses to estimate profiles in peer and family social support, online contacts, and preferences for online communication. Then we assessed the association between sexual attraction and profile membership. A five-profile solution fitted the data best. Profiles were characterized as high support, online contact, and average online communication preference (35.6%); high support, low online contact, and weak online communication preference (42.9%); average support, high online contact, and strong online communication preference (9.9%); low support, low online contact, and average online communication preference (6.9%); and low support, average online contact, and average online communication preference (5.0%). Same- and both-sex attracted adolescents had higher odds than other-sex attracted adolescents of being in the latter three profiles than in the first profile. Thus, same- and both-sex attracted adolescents were more likely to report average to low rates of peer and family social support, high to low frequency of online contact, and an average to strong preference for online communication than other-sex attracted adolescents. The average to low levels of support especially influenced these sexual orientation-based differences in profile membership.

Sexual Attraction Disparities in Adolescent Mental Health: The Role of School Norms.

Purpose: Few studies examine whether and how heterosexist norms in schools might influence disparities in mental health between sexual minority and heterosexual adolescents. Addressing this gap, we study disparities in life satisfaction, psychosomatic complaints, and emotional problems between same/both-sex attracted and other-sex attracted adolescents and examine the moderating role of heterosexist norms on the classroom- and school-level. Methods: We used data from the 2013 and 2017 Dutch Health and Behavior in School-Aged Children study (N = 12,756; mean age = 14.02; standard deviation = 1.54). Separate multi-level analyses for life satisfaction, psychosomatic complaints, and emotional problems were conducted in which cross-level interaction effects between sexual attraction and school and classroom-level heterosexist norms were estimated. Results: Same-sex attracted, both-sex attracted, and adolescents unsure about their sexual attraction reported lower life satisfaction, more psychosomatic complaints, and more emotional problems than their other-sex attracted peers. On average, stronger school-level heterosexist norms were associated with higher life satisfaction, fewer psychosomatic complaints, and fewer emotional problems. Stronger classroom-level heterosexist norms were associated with fewer emotional problems. One moderating effect of sexual attraction and school-level heterosexist norms was found. Contrary to expectations, disparities in life satisfaction between same-sex attracted and other-sex attracted adolescents were smaller when classroom-level heterosexist norms were stronger. Standardized regression coefficients showed that the associations were small. Conclusion: Although our findings suggest pressing health disparities between heterosexual and sexual minority adolescents, heterosexist norms at the school and classroom level were weakly associated with these health disparities.

Development and Validation of the Sexual Minority Adolescent Rejection Sensitivity Scale.

Because no measure for sexual orientation-related rejection sensitivity (RS) for adolescents exists, we aimed to develop and validate the Sexual Minority Adolescent Rejection Sensitivity Scale (SMA-RSS). In Study 1, interviews with 22 sexual minority youth were conducted (M age = 18.86, SD = 3.03). Based on these interviews, 29 scenarios were developed as potential items for the SMA-RSS. In Study 2, exploratory factor analyses were conducted on these 29 scenarios in a sample of 397 sexual minority adolescents (M age = 16.63, SD = 1.07). The 14 best performing items were selected and a two-factor structure best fit the data. In Study 3, a confirmatory factor analysis was conducted and the test-retest reliability, criterion validity, convergent validity, and incremental validity of the SMA-RSS were assessed in a sample of 499 sexual minority adolescents (M age = 16.61, SD = 1.34). A bifactor model best fit the data and evidence was provided for a strong enough general factor to justify unidimensionality. For criterion validity, the SMA-RSS evidenced small to moderate correlations with minority stressors and mental health indicators. For convergent validity, we found a moderate correlation with general RS. For incremental validity, the SMA-RSS was associated with mental health indicators over and above minority stressors and general RS. Participants were moderately stable in their scores on the SMA-RSS over a one-month period. Taken together, the SMA-RSS captured unique situations in which sexual minority adolescents anxiously expect rejection and can aid in better understanding health disparities among sexual minority adolescents.

Everyday Discrimination and Alcohol use among Sexual Minority Adults in a U.S. National Probability Sample.

Objective: Limited research assesses how sexual orientation and gender identity and expression (SOGIE)-based discrimination affects alcohol use above and beyond non-SOGIE-related discrimination and how this may differ for sexual minority subgroups. We examined if SOGIE-related discrimination is additive in affecting alcohol use above and beyond non-SOGIE-related discrimination and examined differences in alcohol use, everyday discrimination, and the attribution of discrimination by sex and sexual identity. Methods: A national probability sample of sexual minority adults in the United States was used (N = 1311, female = 56.4%). Bivariate sexual identity and sex-based differences in drinking frequency, heavy episodic drinking (HED), everyday discrimination, and the attribution of discrimination were assessed. Sexual identity and sex-stratified logistic regression models were estimated, where everyday discrimination and the attribution of discrimination predicted drinking frequency and HED. Results: Several differences by sex assigned at birth and sexual identity in drinking frequency, HED, everyday discrimination, and the attribution of discrimination were found in bivariate analyses. In logistic regression models, experiencing SOGIE-related in addition to other types of discrimination was associated with higher odds of HED only for gay males. No other associations were found for everyday discrimination or the attribution of discrimination with drinking frequency or HED. Conclusions: Findings suggest sex and sexual identity-based differences in everyday discrimination and the attribution of discrimination.

The Association Between Daily Concealment and Affect Among Sexual and Gender Minority Adolescents: The Moderating Role of Family and Peer Support.

PURPOSE: There is a lack of research on the association between identity concealment and mental health among sexual and gender minority (SGM) adolescents and how social support may attenuate this association. Furthermore, research typically neglects the day-to-day variability in concealment experiences of SGM adolescents. Therefore, we examined the association between daily sexual orientation and gender identity concealment and positive and negative affect and the moderating role of family and peer support on this association among SGM adolescents. METHODS: A 21-day daily diary study among 94 SGM adolescents (mean [M] age = 16.10, standard deviation [SD] = 1.50; 31.9% gender minority; 44.7% youth of color) was conducted. Multilevel regression analyses tested the association between daily concealment and positive and negative affect and a cross-level interaction was used to assess the moderating effects of social supports. RESULTS: Daily concealment was associated with higher negative but not with positive affect. Family support was associated with lower daily negative affect but not with positive affect. Peer support was not significantly associated with negative or positive affect. Moderation results indicated that the association between daily concealment and negative affect was significant for adolescents who reported low or average levels of family support but was no longer significant for adolescents who reported high levels of family support. DISCUSSION: Daily identity concealment was positively associated with negative affect and this association was attenuated by family support. Future research and interventions should target families to improve the lives of SGM adolescents and to help reduce and eliminate mental health disparities.

Sexual and Gender Identity-Based Microaggressions: Differences by Sexual and Gender Identity, and Sex Assigned at Birth Among Dutch Youth.

Research describes several sexual and gender identity-based microaggressions that sexual and gender minority (SGM) people might experience. We aimed to examine the occurrence of different sexual and gender identity-based microaggressions among SGM youth and to identify differences by sexual and gender identity, and sex assigned at birth. Open-ended questions about daily experiences were coded for 16 types of sexual and gender identity-based microaggressions in two daily diary studies among Dutch SGM youth (Study 1: N = 90, M age = 17.64 SD = 1.78; Study 2: N = 393, M age = 18.36 SD = 2.65). Several types of microaggressions were identified, and there was sizable variability in the reported frequency. Overall, lesbian women and bisexual youth were less likely to report microaggressions than gay youth. Bisexual youth were less likely to report use of heterosexist or transphobic terminology than gay youth and youth assigned male at birth were less likely to report invalidation of LGBTQ identity than youth assigned female at birth. Last, gender minority youth were more likely to report familial microaggressions, invalidation of LGBTQ identity, and threatening behaviors than cisgender youth. Overall, this study provides empirical support using mixed qualitative and quantitative methods for theorized typologies of microaggressions among Dutch SGM youth.

Cigarette Smoking and Minority Stress Across Age Cohorts in a National Sample of Sexual Minorities: Results From the Generations Study.

BACKGROUND: Sexual minority populations in the United States have persistently higher rates of cigarette use than heterosexuals, partially driven by exposure to minority stressors (e.g., discrimination and victimization). Little is known about cigarette use across cohorts of sexual minority adults who came of age in distinctly different sociopolitical environments. PURPOSE: To examine cigarette use and minority stressors across three age cohorts of U.S. sexual minority adults. METHODS: We used data from the Generations Study, a nationally representative sample (N = 1,500) of White, Black, and Latino/a sexual minority adults in three age cohorts (younger: 18-25 years; middle: 34-41 years; and older: 52-59 years). Survey data were collected from March 2016 to March 2017. We used sex-stratified logistic regression models to estimate adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for associations between age cohort, minority stressors (discrimination and victimization), and two indicators of cigarette smoking (lifetime use and current use). RESULTS: Prevalence of current cigarette use in each age cohort was high (younger: 20%; middle: 33%; and older: 29%). Relative to the younger cohort, men and women in the middle- and older-age cohorts had significantly higher odds of lifetime and current smoking (e.g., men, current, aOR [95% CI]: middle = 2.47 [1.34, 4.52], older = 2.85 [1.66, 4.93]). Minority stressors were independently associated with higher odds of current smoking; when victimization was included, the magnitude of the association between age cohort and current smoking was diminished but remained significant. CONCLUSIONS: Smoking cessation interventions must consider the role of minority stress and the unique needs of sexual minority people across the life course.