Bishop Meg D, Ioverno Salvatore, Russell Stephen T
Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, University of Texas at Austin, 108 E. Dean Keeton St., Stop A2702, Austin, TX 78712, USA.
Department of Sociology, Ghent University, St. Pietersnieuwstraat 33, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
Curr Psychol. 2023 Feb;42(6):5075-5087. doi: 10.1007/s12144-021-01812-6. Epub 2021 May 20.
Victimization is a well-established driver of sexual minority youth's (SMY) mental health and substance use risk. The current study examined and extended this research by exploring how victimization, cybervictimization, and non-parental supportive adults contribute to SMY's vulnerability to poor mental health and substance use. Using data from the first representative sample of Texas youth that measures sexual identity, we analyzed sex-stratified models of the association between sexual identity, mental health, and substance use, and the confounding effects of victimization, cybervictimization, and non-parental adult support. Victimization was more common among SMY and accounted for a greater proportion of sexual identity disparities on mental health and substance use, especially for males. Sexual minority females were more likely to report cybervictimization than heterosexual youth, and cybervictimization was associated with mental health risk. SMY reported fewer available non-parental supportive adults, which was associated with more sadness, suicidality, and polysubstance use. Our study adds to extant evidence that victimization drives SMY's increased susceptibility to mental health and substance use risk. Schools should implement inclusive policies that prohibit bullying based on sexual minority identity and offer professional development opportunities for supporting SMY.
受侵害是性少数青年(SMY)心理健康和物质使用风险的一个公认驱动因素。当前的研究通过探讨受侵害、网络受侵害以及非父母的支持性成年人如何导致性少数青年易出现心理健康问题和物质使用问题,对这一研究进行了考察和拓展。利用来自德克萨斯州青年的首个具有代表性的样本数据(该样本测量了性取向),我们分析了性取向、心理健康和物质使用之间关联的性别分层模型,以及受侵害、网络受侵害和非父母成年人支持的混杂效应。受侵害在性少数青年中更为常见,并且在心理健康和物质使用方面,受侵害在性取向差异中占比更大,尤其是对男性而言。性少数女性比异性恋青年更有可能报告遭受网络侵害,并且网络受侵害与心理健康风险相关。性少数青年报告称可获得支持的非父母成年人较少,这与更多的悲伤情绪、自杀倾向和多种物质使用有关。我们的研究补充了现有证据,即受侵害促使性少数青年更易出现心理健康和物质使用风险。学校应实施包容性政策,禁止基于性少数身份的欺凌行为,并提供支持性少数青年的专业发展机会。