Does it Get Better? Change in Depressive Symptoms from Late-Adolescence to Early-Adulthood, Disordered Eating Behaviors, and Sexual Identity.

Sexual minority youth are often described as at-risk for mental health comorbidities, including disordered eating behavior (DEB) and depression. This study assesses differences in late-adolescent DEB and depressive symptoms among gay/lesbian, bisexual, or mostly-heterosexual individuals, and how their symptoms change across early-adulthood. While sexual minority youth were more likely to report DEB and elevated depressive symptoms in late-adolescence relative to exclusively heterosexual peers, gay/lesbian individuals experienced improvement in early-adulthood depressive symptoms. Conversely, bisexual individuals maintained elevated depressive symptoms into early-adulthood, and additional depressive symptoms associated with DEB. DEB may be a unique risk-factor shaping the mental health of bisexual youth.