Sexual Identity Continuity and Change in a U.S. National Probability Sample of Sexual Minority Adults: Associations With Mental Health and Problematic Substance Use

OBJECTIVE: Sexual minority disparities in behavioral health (e.g., mental health and substance use) are well-established. However, sexual identity is dynamic, and changes are common across the life course (e.g., identifying with a monosexual [lesbian or gay] label and later with a plurisexual [queer, pansexual, etc.] label). This study assessed whether behavioral health risks coincide with sexual identity change among sexual minority people. METHODS: Associations in a 3-year U.S. national probability sample of sexual minority adults were assessed between sexual minority identity change (consistently monosexual [N=400; 44.3% weighted], consistently plurisexual [N=239; 46.7% weighted], monosexual to plurisexual [N=19; 4.2% weighted], and plurisexual to monosexual [N=25; 4.8% weighted]) and five behavioral health indicators (psychological distress, social well-being, number of poor mental health days in the past month, problematic alcohol use, and problematic use of other drugs), controlling for demographic characteristics and baseline behavioral health. RESULTS: Among female participants, monosexual-to-plurisexual identity change (vs. consistently monosexual identity) was associated with greater psychological distress (B=3.41, SE=1.13), lower social well-being (B=-0.61, SE=0.25), and more days of poor mental health in the past month (B=0.69 [Bexp=1.99], SE=0.23). Among male participants, plurisexual-to-monosexual identity change (vs. consistently plurisexual identity) was associated with lower social well-being (B=-0.56, SE=0.25), and identity change (regardless of type) was generally associated with increased problematic use of alcohol and other drugs. CONCLUSIONS: Sexual identity change is an important consideration for sexual minority behavioral health research, with changes (vs. consistency) in identity being an important risk factor for compromised behavioral health. Prevention and treatment interventions may need to tailor messaging to sexual minority men and women differently

Disclosing a Sexual Identity Is a Persistent Stressor Throughout the Lives of Sexual Minority Youth That Has Important Implications for Their Mental Health

Youth who identify as lesbian, gay, or bisexual – known collectively as sexual minority youth – experience stress associated with their nonheterosexual identity. Disclosing a sexual minority identity can be stressful and can negatively affect the mental health of sexual minority youth. Former PRC graduate research trainee and current OSU Presidential Postdoctoral Scholar, along with former PRC postdoctoral fellow Amanda Pollitt, current PRC GRA Meg Bishop and PRC faculty scholar Stephen Russell report on one of the first longitudinal studies to explore disclosure stress and depression among sexual minority youth and young adults. They found that high levels of disclosure stress was correlated with higher depression symptoms and that stressful disclosures may matter more for depression symptoms at younger ages.Population Research Cente

School Administrators’ Support for Educator Training on Students’ Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Is An Effective Way to Reduce Victimization for LGBT Students and Improve School Climates for All Students

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youth report higher rates of victimization and hostile school climate than their non-LGBT peers. Professional development training for school personnel on issues related to sexual and gender identity, known as SOGI training, is one strategy to improve the school experiences and school climate for LGBT youth, and potentially all youth. However, little is known about the impact of SOGI training on LGBT and non-LGBT youth’s experiences at school. Former PRC postdoctoral fellow Salvatore Ioverno, current PRC trainee Meg Bishop, and PRC faculty scholar Stephen Russell report on a recent study in which they find that support for SOGI training by school administration is an effective way to reduce victimization disparities for LGBT students and improve school climates for all students. They also find that the impact of SOGI training should be sustained over time to reap the associated benefits.Population Research Cente