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Mental Health of Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Youth and Young Adults: Differential Effects of Age, Gender, Religiosity, and Sexual Orientation
Author(s) -
Shilo Guy,
Savaya Riki
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
journal of research on adolescence
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.342
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 1532-7795
pISSN - 1050-8392
DOI - 10.1111/j.1532-7795.2011.00772.x
Subject(s) - religiosity , psychology , sexual orientation , lesbian , mental health , sexual minority , minority stress , clinical psychology , sexual identity , disadvantaged , social support , developmental psychology , homosexuality , mental distress , human sexuality , social psychology , psychiatry , gender studies , sociology , political science , psychoanalysis , law
Drawing on minority stress theory, this study examined the mental health effects of the added burden of disadvantaged social status in an I sraeli sample of 461 self‐identified lesbian, gay, and bisexual ( LGB ) youths. Bisexuality was associated with lower levels of well‐being, and, at a younger age, with higher levels of mental distress. In bisexuals, this relationship was fully mediated by family support and acceptance, internalized homophobia, and LGB social contact. Religiosity was associated with low levels of family and friends’ support and acceptance, and high levels of internalized homophobia. These findings highlight the mental vulnerability of LGB adolescents and bisexuals, as well as the social vulnerability of sexual minorities in the religious sector, and the importance of social support to increase mental health.