Sexual Orientation, Adult Connectedness, Substance Use, and Mental Health Outcomes Among Adolescents

Findings From the 2009 New York City Youth Risk Behavior Survey

Bibliographic Data

ID11039723
AuthorsKacie S Seil (Kacie S. Seil and Mayur M. Desai are with Yale School of Public Health, Department of Chronic Disease Epidemiology, New Haven, CT. Megan V. Smith is with Yale School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, New Haven.), Kacie Seil (0000-0001-9359-2794, Yale New Haven Health System), Mahesh M Desai (0000-0001-6616-0945, Yale New Haven Health System), Mayur M Desai (Kacie S. Seil and Mayur M. Desai are with Yale School of Public Health, Department of Chronic Disease Epidemiology, New Haven, CT. Megan V. Smith is with Yale School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, New Haven.), Megan V Smith (0000-0003-2137-5146, Kacie S. Seil and Mayur M. Desai are with Yale School of Public Health, Department of Chronic Disease Epidemiology, New Haven, CT. Megan V. Smith is with Yale School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, New Haven.)
Year2014
Volume104
Issue10
Pages1950-1956
Publication date2014-10-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueAmerican Journal of Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0090-0036 • E-ISSN: 1541-0048
PublisherAmerican Public Health Association (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.2105/ajph.2014.302050
PMID25121812
OpenAlexW1995074389
LanguageEN
Citations received37
References cited57

Objectives. We examined associations between identifying as lesbian, gay, or bisexual (LGB) and lacking a connection with an adult at school on adolescent substance use and mental health outcomes including suicidality. Methods. We analyzed data from the 2009 New York City Youth Risk Behavior Survey (n = 8910). Outcomes of interest included alcohol use, marijuana use, illicit drug use, depressive symptomatology, suicide ideation, and suicide attempt. Results. The prevalence of each outcome was significantly higher among LGB adolescents than heterosexual adolescents and among those who lacked an adult connection at school than among those who did have such a connection. Even when LGB adolescents had an adult connection at school, their odds of most outcomes were significantly higher than for heterosexual adolescents. Those LGB adolescents who lacked a school adult connection had the poorest outcomes (about 45% reported suicide ideation; 31% suicide attempt). Conclusions. Adolescents who are LGB, particularly those who lack a connection with school adults, are at high risk for substance use and poorer mental health outcomes. Interventions should focus on boosting social support and improving outcomes for this vulnerable group

Environmental health · Homosexuality · Lesbian · Mental health · Poison control · Psychiatry · Psychological intervention · Sexual orientation · Social connectedness · Substance abuse · Suicidal ideation · Suicide prevention · Young adult · Youth Risk Behavior Survey · Clinical Psychology · HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions · LGBTQ Health, Identity, and Policy · Medicine · Psychology · Social Psychology · Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes · Gerontology