The association between sexual minority status and poor mental health is well established. However, despite the recent increase in studies investigating health disparities between heterosexual and sexual minority youth and adults, few consider the multidimensional and developmental nature of sexuality when assessing its association with mental health outcomes over various contexts and time. The current study employed the use of complex methodology to assess human sexuality across multiple dimensions (i.e., sex, romantic/sexual attraction, romantic/sexual behavior, and sexual orientation/identity) and developmental stages (i.e., adolescence to adulthood) to assess between and within-group differences on outcomes of depression and suicidality. The influence of interpersonal relationships (parental and peer) and contexts (school and community) on the association between sexual status and mental health outcomes were also examined. In Study 1 latent class analysis was used to identify three groups in adolescence that varied in sexual status. Group comparisons indicated that those who were same- or both-sex attracted reported higher levels of depression and suicide concurrently and at later developmental stages. Proposed risk and protective factors did not fully attenuate differences in outcomes, although the cumulative influence of these effects mitigated differences for depression in early adolescence. Repeated measures latent class analysis on indicators of sexuality from adolescence to adulthood (Study 2) identified five groups that varied in sexual status and sexual maturation and that were differentially related in suicidality and depression over time. Groups identified by sexual minority status characteristics (same- or both- sex attraction or behavior, or nonheterosexual identities) were most at risk across time; however, these groups also demonstrated differences from one another. Longitudinal associations with outcomes identified differential timing of risk, and the analysis of risk and protective factors indicated that youth contexts alter the association between sexual status and mental health outcomes. When assessing the relationship between sexual status groups and trajectories of depression from adolescence to adulthood (Study 3) results indicated four distinct trajectories characterizing chronic low risk, early risk, later risk, and chronic high risk. Findings indicated that groups characterized by sexual minority attraction, behavior, and identity were associated with later and chronic high risk trajectories from adolescence to adulthood when compared to heterosexual groups. Together, results indicate both between- and within-group differences in sexual status and the subsequent association with mental health outcomes. Investigation of risk and protective factors revealed that youth interpersonal relationships and environments act as both mediators and moderators of the relationship between sexual status and mental health, with more robust influences on depression than suicidality and on concurrent rather than longitudinal outcomes. Implications for research, theory, programming, and policy are also discussed. Overall, finding support previous sexual minority health disparities research but highlight the need for within-group studies to assess how differences among sexual minorities and their experiences contribute to mental health outcomes across the lifespan. / A Dissertation submitted to the Department of Family and Child Sciences in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the
degree of Doctor of Philosophy. / Summer Semester, 2014. / June 3, 2014. / Depression, LGBT, Mental health, Sexual development, Sexuality, Suicide / Includes bibliographical references. / B. Kay Pasley, Professor Directing Dissertation; John Taylor, University Representative; Ming Cui, Committee Member; Wayne H. Denton, Committee Member.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_254424 |
| Contributors | Fish, Jessica N. (authoraut), Pasley, B. Kay (professor directing dissertation), Taylor, John (university representative), Cui, Ming (committee member), Denton, Wayne H. (committee member), Department of Family and Child Sciences (degree granting department), Florida State University (degree granting institution) |
| Publisher | Florida State University, Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Language | English, English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text, text |
| Format | 1 online resource, computer, application/pdf |
| Rights | This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s). The copyright in theses and dissertations completed at Florida State University is held by the students who author them. |
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