Mental health and suicidality among racially/ethnically diverse sexual minority youths.
OBJECTIVE
We examined the relationships among sexual minority status, sex, and mental health and suicidality, in a racially/ethnically diverse sample of adolescents.


METHODS
Using pooled data from 2005 and 2007 Youth Risk Behavior Surveys within 14 jurisdictions, we used hierarchical linear modeling to examine 6 mental health outcomes across 6 racial/ethnic groups, intersecting with sexual minority status and sex. Based on an omnibus measure of sexual minority status, there were 6245 sexual minority adolescents in the current study. The total sample was n = 72,691.


RESULTS
Compared with heterosexual peers, sexual minorities reported higher odds of feeling sad; suicidal ideation, planning and attempts; suicide attempt treated by a doctor or nurse, and self-harm. Among sexual minorities, compared with White youths, Asian and Black youths had lower odds of many outcomes, whereas American Native/Pacific Islander, Latino, and Multiracial youths had higher odds.


CONCLUSIONS
Although in general, sexual minority youths were at heightened risk for suicidal outcomes, risk varied based on sex and on race/ethnicity. More research is needed to better understand the manner in which sex and race/ethnicity intersect among sexual minorities to influence risk and protective factors, and ultimately, mental health outcomes.
Wendy B. Bostwick, is with the Public Health and Health Education Programs, School of Nursing and Health Studies, Northern Illinois University, De Kalb. Ilan Meyer is with the Williams Institute, UCLA School of Law, University of California, Los Angeles. Frances Aranda and Tonda Hughes are with the College of Nursing, University of Illinois at Chicago. Stephen Russell is with the Division of Family Studies and Human Development and the Frances McClelland Institute for Children, Youth, and Families, University of Arizona, Tucson. Michelle Birkett and Brian Mustanski are with the Department of Medical Social Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL.
Wendy B
WB
Bostwick
Ilan
I
Meyer
Frances
F
Aranda
Stephen
S
Russell
Tonda
T
Hughes
Michelle
M
Birkett
Brian
B
Mustanski
D000293:Adolescent; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D018452:Homosexuality, Female / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008913:Minority Groups / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D044469:Racial Groups / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D059020:Suicidal Ideation; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology