Department of Psychology, The City University of New York-The City College and Graduate Center.
J Sex Res. 2023 May-Jun;60(5):600-604. doi: 10.1080/00224499.2022.2144991. Epub 2022 Nov 18.
Xu and colleagues add to the growing research literature on the role of potential familial (i.e., genetic and shared environment) causes in sexual orientation and in the relation between sexual orientation and poor mental health, in which lesbian, gay, bisexual, and other sexual minority individuals have poorer mental health than heterosexual individuals. I address several implications of the findings by Xu et al. and others. First, the nuance or complexity of genetics is considered, given the implications of genetics for health via a single gene, epistasis, or epigenetics. Second, I highlight the magnitude of the genetic relation between sexual orientation and psychopathology, suggesting some, but not all, sexual minority individuals may differ from heterosexual individuals on psychiatric vulnerability. In turn, this suggests that research should identify for whom or under what circumstances the relation holds. Third, I underscore the need for a within-subjects design, in which attention turns to differences among sexual minority individuals. Fourth, the need to reevaluate Minority Stress Theory, the predominant theory accounting for health disparities by sexual orientation, is addressed because of the implications of genetics for health. Fifth, I acknowledge the concern attached to genetic research for potentially compounding the stigmatization already experienced by sexual minority individuals. Nevertheless, this research is occurring and will likely increase in volume. It will inform understanding of sexual minority individuals.
徐和同事们的研究进一步丰富了潜在家族因素(即遗传和共享环境)在性取向以及性取向与心理健康不良之间关系的研究文献。在这项研究中,同性恋、双性恋和其他性少数群体的心理健康状况比异性恋个体更差。我将探讨徐等人的研究结果带来的一些影响。首先,鉴于遗传因素通过单个基因、上位效应或表观遗传学对健康的影响,需要考虑遗传的细微差别或复杂性。其次,我强调了性取向和精神病理学之间遗传关系的重要性,这表明并非所有性少数群体个体在精神脆弱性方面都与异性恋个体不同。反过来,这表明研究应该确定在哪些情况下或针对哪些人群,这种关系成立。第三,我强调需要采用个体内设计,关注性少数群体个体之间的差异。第四,需要重新评估少数群体应激理论,因为遗传因素对健康的影响可能会改变这一理论,而该理论是解释性取向导致健康差异的主要理论。第五,我承认遗传研究可能会加剧性少数群体已经面临的污名化问题,但遗传研究仍在进行中,并且可能会增加。这项研究将有助于理解性少数群体个体。