Associations between Sexual Minority Identities, Heterosexism, Identity Concealment, and Depression in Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Emerging Adults: Adjusting for the Effects of General Stressors.

OBJECTIVES: Lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals experience stressors distinctively tied to their sexual identities, such as externalized and internalized heterosexism and identity concealment, which are correlated with increased psychological distress, including depression. The present study examined the variance in depression scores resulting from heterosexism, LGB identity concealment, and minority sexual identities, after adjusting for race/ethnicity and interpersonal violence victimization experiences. METHODS: Participants were 277 LGB emerging adults 18 to 29 years old (mean 25.39, standard deviation 2.77; 46 lesbian women, 71 gay men) recruited from an online platform. RESULTS: Nearly 41% reported moderate to severe depression symptoms. A two-step hierarchical regression model examining the effect of sexual minority stressors, heterosexism, LGB identity concealment, and minority sexual identity on depression after controlling for childhood maltreatment and face-to-face intimate partner violence types was significant. Bisexual women (vs gay men), those with greater exposure to heterosexism, and those with a greater degree of identity concealment experienced significantly higher scores on depression. In addition, being a person of color (including identifying as Hispanic), exposure to childhood maltreatment, and experiencing psychological intimate partner violence significantly predicted increases in depression scores. CONCLUSIONS: Findings emphasize the importance of assessing minority stressors and taking them into account when providing clinical interventions to LGB individuals.

Sex, Gender, and Sexual Orientation in Psychological Research: Exploring Data Trends & Researcher Opinions.

Psychology researchers have historically neglected variables related to sex, gender, and sexual orientation, leading to the erasure of sex, gender, and sexual orientation in research, which limits the generalizability of psychological findings. We argue that these important variables need to be considered more consistently by researchers across psychology subdisciplines. In Study 1 we found that 15.1% of a large MTurk sample (i.e., 8500+) identified as a sexual or gender minority (SGM; e.g., lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer [LGBTQ+]). In addition, data from Study 1 showed that our youngest cohort (i.e., aged 18-25 years) reported significantly higher rates of LGBTQ+ identification (22.7%) than our oldest cohort (i.e., 65-84 years; 1.3%), suggesting that endorsement of these idnetities is increasing. Next, in Study 2 we found that psychology researchers (N = 135) tended to rate expansive sex, gender, and sexual orientation demographic variables as important in general, but were much less likely to report actually using these variables in their own studies. Moreover, younger faculty and faculty who identified as women rated these variables as more important than their colleagues. Based on our findings, we conclude that psychology researchers should use expansive sex, gender, and sexual orientation items in their studies, report these demographic variables consistently, and analyze their data by these important variables when possible. Because a substantial and growing proportion of individuals identify as LGBTQ+, and because SGM identity is related to additional life stressors, it is imperative to better understand these individuals. Various resources are offered and challenges are discussed.

LGBTQ+ identity-related abuse during childhood and associations with depression and suicide behavior: Role of adulthood cisheterosexism and expressive suppression.

BACKGROUND: Exposure to minority stressors specific to LGBTQ+ individuals, such as heterosexism and cissexism (or cisheterosexism) is not covered under the traditional adverse childhood experiences framework. This is important because childhood identity-related abuse by a parent/caregiver can lead to mental health challenges in later life through the adoption of maladaptive coping mechanisms. OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to examine the role of cisheterosexism and expressive suppression as serial mediators in the associations between identity-related abuse and depressive symptoms and suicide behavior. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: Participants included 563 LGBTQ+ identifying adults between 18 and 64 years (M = 30.02, SD = 9.05) from different regions of Spain and were recruited through social media (e.g., Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram). METHOD: A serial mediation model was conducted with cisheterosexism and expressive suppression as the mediators in the associations between LGBTQ+ identity-related childhood abuse and depressive symptoms and suicide behavior. RESULTS: Findings indicated a positive indirect effect of identity-related abuse on depressive symptoms through cumulative cisheterosexism (B = 0.628, p < .01), and via cumulative cisheterosexism and suppression (B = 0.146, p < .05). No significant indirect effect was found for identity-related abuse on depressive symptoms via suppression (B = 0.086). An indirect effect was found for identity-related abuse on suicide behavior via cumulative cisheterosexism (B = 0.250, p < .01). CONCLUSIONS: Findings reveal that LGBTQ+ identity-related cisheterosexist experiences perpetrated by parents or caregivers are associated with harmful, long-term impacts on symptoms of depression and suicide behavior via experiences of cisheterosexism and expressive suppression.

Embracing Complexity: Variation in Faculty's Attitudes Toward Inclusive Measures of Gender and Sexuality in Social and Health Sciences Research.

In the absence of adequate measurement efforts, expansive gender and sexual identities will remain underexplored in quantitative social science and health research. We use primary survey data (N = 309) to identify factors associated with U.S.based social and health science faculty's attitudes toward inclusive gender and sexuality measures in participant-based research. Results suggest that political science faculty rated expansive gender and sexuality measures as less important to their own research, relative to psychology, sociology, and health sciences faculty. In addition, cisgender/heterosexual women and LGBTQ+ identifying faculty rate and apply these measures more positively compared to faculy who identify as cisgender/heterosexual men. Finally, faculty engaging in predominantly quantitative research, or in teaching-focused positions, had lower ratings of the importance of gender expansive measurement. Results suggest that while individual characteristics shape faculty's attitudes toward and use of inclusive gender and sexuality measures, disciplinary and academic contexts also matter.

Queer Politics of a Pandemic: LGBTQ + People's Conceptions of COVID-19's Politicization.

Introduction: Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and/or queer (LGBTQ+) people have historically been at the center of contentious political debates in the United States. The pandemic's divisive politicization has created societal stress in both hindering mitigation efforts and exacerbating social marginalization. Research has examined relatively privileged groups' COVID beliefs; however, explorations are needed into ideological processes among those marginalized by COVID, such as LGBTQ+ people, to provide a holistic framework of queer politics. Methods: Data come from in-depth interviews conducted with 43 LGBTQ+ people collected between October 2020 and January 2021. Purposive sampling was used to recruit participants from a larger survey on pandemic experiences. Results: Through the "underdog" framework," LGBTQ+ people held strong convictions to science-informed political beliefs, which informed their critiques of inadequate government leadership. Participants also engaged in ideological resistance to harmful individualistic rhetoric through an emphasis on collectivism. The divisive politicization of the pandemic shaped numerous social stressors that LGBTQ+ people adapted to using various strategies to maintain their mental health. Conclusions: Participants viewed American individualism and Christian nationalism as a public health threat that led to resistance to health and safety measures putting other people at risk. Findings support the underdog theory, with LGBTQ+ people elevating evidence-based science and disadvantaged groups' wellbeing by emphasizing social empathy as a collective good that supports community health. Policy Implications: Findings can inform policies and community programming that promotes equity across all social identities through the depoliticization of public health and centering LGBTQ+ people's capacity for resistance and resilience.

Investigating Asian American Adolescents' Resiliency Factors and Young Adult Mental Health Outcomes at 14-year Follow-up: A Nationally Representative Prospective Cohort Study.

There is scant research on how Asian American adolescents' resiliency relates to mental well-being in adulthood. The objective of this study was to determine the prospective associations between resiliency factors (individual, family, and school community) in adolescence and mental health outcomes in adulthood, among a national sample of Asian Americans. We analyzed data from 1020 Asian American adolescents who were followed for 14 years in the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health. Of the resiliency factors, individual self-esteem (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR] 0.54, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 0.37-0.79) and family connectedness (AOR 0.78, 95% CI 0.65-0.93) in adolescence were found to be protective against adult mental health outcomes in logistic regression models adjusting for sociodemographic factors and baseline mental health. Our study identified individual and family resiliency factors which can be leveraged to help Asian American adolescents and families in cultivating better mental health.

Skin Tone, Race/Ethnicity, and Gender Differences in BMI among New US Immigrants.

Scholars have been interested in the relationship between skin tone and health since at least the 1970s; however, no study, to our knowledge, has analyzed a diverse immigrant sample. In this study, we use the New Immigrant Survey and interactions to examine how skin tone and race/ethnicity - alongside gender - jointly pattern BMI among Legal Permanent Residents. Our approach allows for the analysis of BMI among multiple racial/ethnic immigrant groups, while considering skin tone. Our results document that darker skin shades are associated with higher BMI, but only for women. Further, we also tease out the relationship between gender and race/ethnicity for BMI, which allows us to better understand this critical connection for new immigrants' health in the United States. Together, our results highlight that BMI jointly varies by skin tone and race/ethnicity, which emphasizes the importance of an intersectional approach, especially for new immigrant women of color.

Forgone Care among LGBTQ and Non-LGBTQ Americans during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Role of Health, Social Support, and Pandemic-Related Stress.

OBJECTIVES: In this study, we explore the role of Coronavirus Disease 2019 pandemic-related stress, social support, and health on unmet healthcare needs during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 pandemic, particularly among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer plus (LGBTQ+) adults. METHODS: We collected data using a self-administered online survey of US adults. Using logistic regression, we modeled potential risk and protective factors for not receiving needed care during the pandemic (forgone care) among LGBTQ+ individuals (n = 121), cisgender and heterosexual-identifying women (n = 235), and cisgender and heterosexual-identifying men (n = 62). Limiting analyses to the LGBTQ+ subsample, we also assessed the unique role of LGBTQ+ discrimination and depressive symptoms. RESULTS: Logistic regression results suggested that social support was associated with lower odds of forgone care (odds ratio [OR] 0.95, P < 0.01). Furthermore, better self-rated health and higher levels of income were associated with lower odds of forgone care (OR 0.56, P < 0.001, and OR 0.92, P < 0.05, respectively). Finally, LGBTQ+ individuals experienced uniquely high levels of forgone care, and LGBTQ+ discrimination (OR 1.03, P < 0.05) and depressive symptoms (OR 1.09, P < 0.01) were associated with higher odds of forgone care among LGBTQ+ participants. CONCLUSIONS: Future research should examine the unique factors shaping the access to health care of LGBTQ+ adults in the United States, and healthcare practitioners should consider strategies to screen for discrimination and leverage the protective benefits of social support.

COVID-19 health practices and attitudes in the United States: the role of trust in healthcare.

Aim: Individual-level COVID-19 vaccination and related preventive health behaviors is politically polarized in the United States. We examined whether the current polarization in COVID-19 health behavior may be explained by differences in trust in healthcare, locus of control, or insurance status. Subject and methods: Our sample includes 553 US adults recruited on Amazon MTurk. We assessed odds ratios of currently vaccinated, or willing to be vaccinated if unvaccinated using logistic regression. We assessed count of routine changes and positive attitudes toward facemasks using negative binomial regression. Results: Trust in healthcare was found to be an important determinant of all COVID-19 related health behavior measured in our study. Further, the effects on COVID-related attitudes/behavior from trust in healthcare are large in magnitude. For instance, our results suggest that individuals at or above the upper quartile of trust in healthcare are around 20 percentage points more likely to be vaccinated than those at or below the lower quartile. Further, we find that the effect of trust in healthcare on adherence or endorsement of COVID-19 mitigation strategies is distinct from political affiliation, i.e., the effect on COVID-19 related health behavior is independent of the polarization across political party lines. Locus of control was not associated with adherence/attitude toward COVID-19 mitigation strategies. Insurance status was only found to be positively associated with odds of being vaccinated. Conclusion: Our study highlights the importance of increasing trust in healthcare as a means to protect public health in the wake of major public health crises. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10389-022-01737-9.

Investigating Protective Factors Associated With Mental Health Outcomes in Sexual Minority Youth.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to identify and evaluate the efficacy of adolescent protective factors against mental health (MH) outcomes in young adulthood of sexual minority identifying youth (SMY). METHODS: Using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health, we identified potential protective factors (e.g., individual factors like self-esteem, family factors like family communication, and community factors like caring teachers) at baseline (1994) when the sample was school-aged for SMY. SMY included those who identified their sexual identity as mostly heterosexual, bisexual, mostly homosexual, or 100% homosexual. MH outcomes (depression, anxiety, or suicidality) were assessed at 14-year follow-up. RESULTS: Approximately 14,800 youth completed baseline and follow-up surveys, where 13.5% identified as SMY. Of SMY, 57% had a MH outcome compared to 37% of non-SMY (p < .05). Not all factors were protective for SMY. At the individual level, emotional well-being (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] .56, 95% confidence interval [CI] .41-.78) and self-esteem (AOR .79, 95% CI .66-.95) were found to be protective for MH outcomes in regression models. At the family level, family connectedness (AOR .82, 95% CI .71-.95) was found to be protective. At the community level, school connectedness (AOR .78, 95% CI .66-.92) and caring teachers (AOR .76, 95% CI .58-.99) were found to be protective for SMY. CONCLUSION: Factors at the individual, family, and community (e.g., caring teachers) levels appear to be protective against MH outcomes unique to SMY. Developing interventions focused on protective factors have potential to prevent health disparities.

Self-Reported Sensory Impairments in Older Adults and their Association with Self-Rated Health and Mortality Outcomes.

OBJECTIVES: This study assessed the relationship between self-reported impairments of vision, hearing, and dual sensory impairment, and change in self-rated health/mortality status over a 5-year period. METHODS: Data came from the National Health and Aging Trends Study, a nationally representative survey of Medicare beneficiaries ages 65 and older. Analyses consisted of a series of ordinal logistic regressions stratified by sex. RESULTS: For both women and men, self-reported sensory impairments were not statistical predictors of self-rated health/mortality, when other dimensions of health, such as physical functioning, participation, and activities of daily living functioning were included in models. DISCUSSION: Understanding how self-reported sensory impairments impact self-rated health could assist in targeting rehabilitation strategies to older adults who experience sensory impairments.

LGBTQ+ People's Mental Health and Pets: Novel Strategies of Coping and Resilience.

Health disparities persist for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and/or queer (LGBTQ+)-identified people, often shaped by minority stress through anti-LGBTQ+ stigma. Resilience and coping are important for LGBTQ+ people widely, especially through social supports, but further examination is needed into more diverse, expansive mental health assets. Companion animals, or pets, have significant positive mental health benefits in the general population, but more understanding is needed to validate LGBTQ+ people's lived experiences of minority stress, mental health challenges, and pet-based sources of resilience. We employ the minority resilience framework to ask: What role do pets play in how LGBTQ+ people navigate and cope with stress? This U.S.-based study centers the voices of 45 LGBTQ+ people's qualitative interview narratives characterizing the diverse coping and resilience-building processes they develop through pet relationships. Findings demonstrate diverse processes surrounding pets as contributing to resilience, as participants emphasized the unique beneficial emotional connections pets provided. Second, pet family members were conceptualized as vital sources of support that promoted thriving. Finally, pet relationships fostered happiness and life enjoyment that augmented participants' life satisfaction. This study delineates more diverse understandings of how LGBTQ+ people manage stress through their pet relationships, which can provide vital information to service providers and policymakers in more holistically attending to marginalized communities' health needs.

Perceived weight gain and eating disorder symptoms among LGBTQ+ adults during the COVID-19 pandemic: a convergent mixed-method study.

BACKGROUND: In this study, we further explore the role of COVID-19 pandemic-related stress, social support, and resilience on self-reported eating disorder symptoms (using the EDE-QS) and perceived weight gain among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and/or queer (LGBTQ+ adults) in the US context during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: Employing a convergent mixed method design, we surveyed 411 individuals, and conducted qualitative semi-structured follow-up interviews with 43 LGBTQ+ -identifying survey respondents. Using OLS regression and multinomial logistic regression, we modeled eating disorder symptoms and perceived weight gain among LGBTQ+ individuals (n = 120) and cisgender and heterosexual-identifying women (n = 230), to cisgender and heterosexual-identifying men (n = 61). We also explored complementary interview narratives among LGBTQ+ people by employing selective coding strategies. RESULTS: Study results suggest that LGBTQ+ individuals are likely experiencing uniquely high levels of pandemic-related stress, and secondly, that pandemic-related stress is associated with elevated eating disorder symptoms and higher risk of perceived weight gain. Nearly 1 in 3 participants reported eating disorder symptoms of potentially clinical significance. Social support, but not resilient coping, was found to be protective against increased eating disorder symptoms. Qualitative analyses revealed that LGBTQ+ individuals situated physical exercise constraints, challenging eating patterns, and weight concerns within their pandemic experiences. CONCLUSIONS: Clinicians of diverse specialties should screen for eating disorder symptoms and actively engage patients in conversations about their COVID-19-related weight gain and eating behaviors, particularly with LGBTQ+ -identifying adults.

The COVID-19 pandemic has uniquely shaped the mental health of individuals globally. Adults, particularly those identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and/or queer (LGBTQ+), may be at risk of engaging in disordered eating behaviors (eating disorder symptoms) due to pandemic-related stress. This study explores correlates of eating disorder symptoms and perceived weight gain among adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. We surveyed 411 US-residents, and engaged in follow-up semi-structured interviews with 43 LGBTQ+ -identifying survey respondents to better establish the unique pandemic-related experiences and mental health challenges of LGBTQ+ adults. We quantitatively found that LGBTQ+ individuals experienced uniquely high levels of pandemic-related stress, and secondly, that pandemic-related stress was associated with increased eating disorder symptoms and perceived weight gain. Qualitative narratives complemented quantative findings and suggested that eating concerns, physical exercise constraints, and weight concerns were important to LGBTQ+ people's perceived health challenges during the pandemic. These findings highlight the need to screen for any persistent eating disorder symptoms or weight concerns, particularly among LGBTQ+ adults.

Food insecurity risk and alcohol use disorder in US young adults: Findings from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The relationship between food insecurity and alcohol use disorder remains unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the association between food insecurity risk and alcohol use disorder in a nationally representative sample of young adults. METHODS: Cross-sectional nationally representative data of 14,786 US young adults aged 24-32 years old from Wave IV (2008) of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health were analyzed to assess a single-item measure of food insecurity risk and Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, 5th Edition (DSM-5) alcohol use disorder. RESULTS: Among young adults, 12% were found to be at risk for food insecurity. Young adults with food insecurity risk had greater odds of moderate (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 1.34, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.13-1.58) and severe (AOR: 1.67, 95% CI: 1.34-2.07) threshold alcohol use disorder than food-secure young adults, adjusting for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, income, receipt of public assistance, household size, and smoking. Food insecurity risk was also associated with a 23% higher (95% CI: 11%-37%) number of problematic alcohol use behaviors (e.g., risky behaviors, continued alcohol use despite emotional or physical health problems). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Food insecurity risk is associated with problematic patterns of alcohol use. Health care providers should screen for food insecurity and problematic alcohol use in young adults and provide referrals for further resources and treatment when appropriate. SCIENTIFIC SIGNIFICANCE: This nationally representative study of US young adults is the first to find an association between food insecurity risk and alcohol use disorder using DSM-5 criteria.

Weight Goals, Disordered Eating Behaviors, and BMI Trajectories in US Young Adults.

BACKGROUND: Community sample data indicate that weight control efforts in young adulthood may have associations with greater increases in body mass index (BMI) over time. OBJECTIVE: To determine the prospective associations between weight goals and behaviors in young adults and BMI trajectories over 15-year follow-up using a nationally representative sample. DESIGN: Longitudinal cohort data collected from 2001 to 2018 of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health. PARTICIPANTS: Young adults aged 18-26 years old at baseline stratified by gender and BMI category. MAIN MEASURES: Predictors: weight goals, any weight loss/maintenance behaviors, dieting, exercise, disordered eating behaviors. OUTCOMES: BMI at 7- and 15-year follow-up. KEY RESULTS: Of the 12,155 young adults in the sample (54% female, 32% non-White), 33.2% reported a goal to lose weight, 15.7% to gain weight, and 14.6% to maintain weight. In unadjusted models, all groups have higher mean BMI at 7- and 15-year follow-up. In mixed effect models, goals to lose weight in men with BMI < 18.5 (5.94 kg/m2; 95% CI 2.58, 9.30) and goals to maintain weight in men with BMI ≥ 25 (0.44; 95% CI 0.15, 0.72) were associated with greater BMI increase compared to no weight goal. Engaging in disordered eating behaviors was associated with greater BMI increase in men with BMI < 18.5 (5.91; 2.96, 8.86) and women with 18.5 ≤ BMI < 25 (0.40; 0.16, 0.63). Dieting (- 0.24; - 0.41, - 0.06) and exercise (- 0.31; - 0.45, - 0.17) were associated with lower BMI increase in women with 18.5 ≤ BMI < 25. In women with BMI < 18.5, dieting was associated with greater BMI increase (1.35; 0.33, 2.37). CONCLUSIONS: Weight control efforts may have variable effects on BMI over time by gender and BMI category. These findings underscore the need to counsel patients on the effectiveness of weight control efforts and long-term weight management.

Associations between Adverse Childhood Experiences and Performance-Enhancing Substance Use among Young Adults.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with negative health outcomes, yet their associations with performance-enhancing substance (PES) use are unclear. This study aimed to determine whether ACEs predict greater use of legal and illegal PES in young adults. METHODS: We analyzed data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (n = 14,322), Waves I (1994-1995) and III (2001-2002). ACEs included childhood sexual abuse, physical abuse, two neglect indicators, and cumulative ACEs. Legal (e.g. creatine monohydrate) and illegal (e.g. non-prescription anabolic-androgenic steroids; AAS) PES use was assessed. RESULTS: Sexual abuse had the greatest effect and predicted higher odds of legal PES use (men: adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 1.66, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.06-2.59; women: AOR 3.74, 95% CI 1.63-8.59) and AAS use (men: AOR 8.89, 95% CI 5.37-14.72; women: AOR 5.73, 95% CI 2.31-14.18). Among men, a history of physical abuse (AOR 3.04, 95% CI 2.05-4.52), being left alone by a parent/guardian (AOR 2.33, 95% CI 1.50-3.60), and basic needs not being met (AOR 3.47, 95% CI 2.30-5.23) predicted higher odds of AAS use. Among women, basic needs not being met (AOR 2.94, 95% CI 1.43-6.04) predicted higher odds of AAS use. Among both men and women, greater number of cumulative ACEs predicted higher odds of both legal and illegal PES use. CONCLUSIONS: ACEs predict greater PES use among young adults. Clinicians should monitor for PES use among those who have experienced ACEs and provide psychoeducation on the adverse effects associated with PES use.

Adverse childhood events and cognitive function among young adults: Prospective results from the national longitudinal study of adolescent to adult health.

BACKGROUND: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) may have lasting impacts on cognition. OBJECTIVE: To determine if ACE exposure is prospectively associated with cognition in young adults. We hypothesized that deprivation- and threat-type ACEs as well as higher cumulative ACE exposure predict poorer cognition. PARTICIPANTS & SETTING: Participants were from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health), a prospective cohort investigation of U.S. adolescents followed to adulthood. Current study participants were 18-24 years old (Wave III), 24-32 years old (Wave IV), and 31-42 years old (Wave V). The maximum Wave IV sample was 12,288 adults; Wave V was 1277 adults. METHODS: History of ACEs were assessed at Wave III. Three cognitive indicators were assessed at Wave IV and Wave V using the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (immediate and delayed verbal memory) and the Digit-Span Backward Task (working memory). RESULTS: The deprivation ACE of not-having-basic-needs met was associated with poorer working (ß = 0.14, CI95 -0.26, -0.01), immediate (ß=-0.29, CI95 -0.43, -0.15), and delayed memory (ß=-0.27, CI95 -0.43, -0.12) at Wave IV; poorer immediate (ß=-0.47, CI95-0.79, -0.16) and delayed memory (ß=-0.33, CI95 -0.65, -0.01) at Wave V. The threat ACE of sexual abuse was associated with poorer immediate (ß=-0.40, CI95 -0.62, -0.17) and delayed memory (ß=-0.29, CI95 -0.55, -0.03) at Wave IV. Higher cumulative ACEs predicted poorer delayed memory (ß =-0.05, CI95 -0.10, -0.01) at Wave V. CONCLUSIONS: Higher ACEs, especially deprivation-type, were prospectively linked to poorer cognition. Early wide-scale screening/tailored treatments addressing ACEs and cognitive function may be warranted.

Do gender differences in housework performance and informal adult caregiving explain the gender gap in depressive symptoms of older adults?

We assess whether gender differences in domestic time-use, including informal adult caregiving and housework, explain the gender gap in depression among older adults. Using data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics, we model depressive symptoms as a function of informal adult caregiving and housework. The analytic sample includes 539 men and 782 women. Findings suggest informal adult caregiving is associated with increased depressive symptoms for women (p < .05) and men (p < .05). Time spent on housework is associated with decreased depressive symptoms for women and female caregivers (p < .01). Women may experience elevated depressive symptoms relative to men despite their domestic time-use.

Getting by with a Little Help from Our Friends: The Role of Social Support in Addressing HIV-related Mental Health Disparities among Sexual Minorities in the Lower Rio Grande Valley.

This study examines how social support and perceived discrimination influence depressive symptoms of sexual minorities (including, lesbian, gay, bisexual-identifying individuals, and others with same-sex sexual partners) relative to heterosexual peers, while considering the role of HIV-positive status. We surveyed low-income, predominantly Hispanic/Latino/as residents receiving STI-testing and/or HIV/AIDS care in the lower Rio Grande Valley of southernmost Texas. Respondents aged 18+ took a self-administered survey in English or Spanish in a clinic waiting room (N= 273). Based on OLS regression, HIV-positive status (OLS coefficient = 2.54, p< .01) and social support (OLS coefficient = -0.17, p< .001) were significant predictors of depressive symptoms among sexual minorities, but not those who identified as heterosexual. Perceived discrimination was uniquely associated with increased depressive symptoms among sexual minorities (interaction coefficient = 0.21, p< .05). Clinicians treating sexual minority patients for depression should consider developing and applying resources tailored to individuals' level of social support and ongoing experiences of social discrimination.