Relationship Trajectories and Psychological Well-Being Among Sexual Minority Youth

• NCJ Number: 231901
• Journal: Journal of Youth and Adolescence Volume: 39 Issue: 10 Dated: October 2010 Pages: 1148-1163
• Author(s): Jose A. Bauermeister; Michelle Marie Johns; Theo G. M. Sandfort; Anna Eisenberg; Arnold H. Grossman; Anthony R. D'Augelli
• Date Published: October 2010
• Length: 16 pages
• Grant Number(s): RO1-MH058155
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute of Mental Health
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study investigated the relationship between same-sex relationship (SSR) and opposite-sex relationship trajectories and psychological well-being among a sample of sexual minority youth.

Abstract

Dating in adolescence plays an integral part in the development of sexual and social identities. This process is particularly salient for sexual minority youth who face additional obstacles to their identity formation due to their marginalized status. This study investigated the influence of participating in a same-sex relationship (SSR) or an opposite-sex relationship (OSR) on sexual minority youths' psychological well-being (i.e., symptoms of depression, anxiety and internalized homophobia, and self-esteem) in an ethnically-diverse sample of 350 youth (55 percent male) between the ages of 15-19 years, recruited from 3 GLBT drop-in centers in the New York City area. Using longitudinal data, the authors examined youths' SSR and OSR over time. Multivariate regression analyses suggest that involvement in a SSR was positively associated with changes in self-esteem in males, and negatively correlated with changes in internalized homophobia in females. The authors discuss the implications for positive development in sexual minority adolescent populations. Tables and references (Published Abstract)