A Longitudinal Study of Interpersonal Relationships Among Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Adolescents and Young Adults: Mediational Pathways from Attachment to Romantic Relationship Quality

Abstract

The current study examined the potential for mental health to mediate associations between earlier attachment to parents and peers and later relationship adjustment during adolescence and young adulthood in a sample of sexual minority youth. Secondarily, the study examined associations between peer and parental attachment and relationship/dating milestones. Participants included 219 lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth who participated in six waves of data collection over 3.5 years. Parental attachment was associated with an older age of dating initiation, while peer attachment was associated with longer relationship length. Both peer and parental attachment were significantly associated with mental health in later adolescence and young adulthood. Mental health mediated the association between peer attachment and main partner relationship quality. While the total indirect effect of parental attachment on main partner relationship quality was statistically significant, specific indirect effects were not. Implications for the application of attachment theory and integration of interpersonal factors into mental health intervention with sexual minority youth are discussed.

Breakup-related appraisals and the psychological well-being of young adult gay and bisexual men

“…Compared to their heterosexual peers, YGBM’s involvement in romantic relationships may be stalled in adolescence due to the development of a non-heterosexual identity (Bauermeister, Johns, Sandfort, Eisenberg, Grossman, & D’Augelli, 2010), and stress associated with internalized homophobia and fear of rejection from family and friends (Diamond, Savin-Williams, & Dubé, 1999; Starks, Newcomb & Mustanski, 2015). These stressors can lead to increases in mental health symptoms and to deter the development of a healthy self-concept (Savin-Williams & Cohen, 2015).…”

Discrimination, Internalized Homonegativity, and Attitudes Toward Children of Same‐Sex Parents: Can Secure Attachment Buffer Against Stigma Internalization?

“…Findings also suggest that clinicians working with LGB individuals, couples, and their families might target attachment, given that one's environment and the development of new relationships can alter one's main attachment style (Fraley, ) and current findings that secure attachment might buffer against stigma internalization. Positive parent–child and peer relationships have each been found to play a positive role in emotional development for LGB individuals (Bos & Gartrell, ; Goldfried & Goldfried, ; Landolt et al., ; Starks et al., ). And, secure attachment to parents has been found to promote greater self‐disclosure of sexual identity to parents (Holtzen et al., ).…”

“…Participants self‐reported age, race/ethnicity, gender, sexual identity, education, relationship length, if they were living with their partner, and number of children. Participants also completed five items assessing sexual orientation concealment (items taken from Starks et al., ; based on D'Augelli, Hershberger, & Pilkington, ), specifically asking the extent to which participants’ father/stepfather, mother/stepmother, siblings, best friend, and co‐workers/classmates know their sexual orientation on a scale of 1 ( definitely knows ) to 4 ( definitely does not know ). Mean scores were calculated, with higher scores indicating greater concealment (α = .91).…”

“…Research has consistently found that secure attachment provides a variety of benefits to individuals throughout their lives, including for mental health (Mayseless, 1996;Ranson & Urichuk, 2008). Specifically, it has been found to buffer against the psychological effects of negative childhood experiences (Cassidy, Poehlmann, & Shaver, 2010;Wood, Klebba, & Miller, 2000) and to provide protection from mental health issues while promoting good social skills and coping mechanisms (Moretti & Peled, 2004;Schaller, 2007 Secure attachment also promotes relational functioning in heterosexual and same-sex romantic relationships (Creasey & Hesson-McInnis, 2001;Simpson, 1990;Starks, Newcomb, & Mustanski, 2015).…”

Introduction to the Special Section on Sexual Health in Gay and Bisexual Men

“…Stephenson, White, and Mitchell (2015) present results from a sample of partnered gay and bisexual men recruited via Facebook to better understand the associations between sexual agreements and perceptions of the HIV prevalence among sex partners and broader populations. Finally, the role of early adolescent attachment to parents and peers and how this is associated with relationship milestones in later adolescence, mental health, and main partner relationship quality among gay, bisexual, and lesbian youth is examined (Starks, Newcomb, & Mustanski, 2015).…”