Cyber Behaviors Among Heterosexual and Sexual Minority Youth: Subgroup Differences and Associations with Health Indicators

Abstract

To examine the associations of adolescent sexual orientation with cyber behaviors and health indicators 5 years later during young adulthood and test whether cyber behaviors contribute to sexual orientation health disparities. Data were drawn from Waves 2 and 7 from the NEXT Generational Health Study, a nationally representative cohort of U.S. adolescents (n = 2012). Multiple linear regressions were used to examine differences between sexual orientation subgroups (defined based on sexual attraction) in five cyber behaviors and five health indicators. Mediation analyses were conducted to examine whether cyber behaviors mediated the associations between bisexual attraction and health indicators. Relative to heterosexual peers, bisexual youth spent more time engaging in cyber behaviors and social media, and reported more psychosomatic symptoms and poorer general health. Gay and questioning males spent less time playing video games than heterosexual males. Bisexual females reported more depressive symptoms and less optimism and happiness than heterosexual females. Time spent on cyber behaviors and social media was a significant mediator of adolescent bisexual attraction and worse health outcomes in young adulthood. Frequency of cyber behaviors differed between sexual minority subgroups. Bisexual youth in particular had more psychosomatic symptoms and poorer general health. Engagement in cyber behaviors and social media use contributed to increased health disparities among bisexual youth.

Mediators of the Disparities in Depression Between Sexual Minority and Heterosexual Individuals: A Systematic Review

“…Luk et al ( 2018 ) 1 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 Good 13. Luk et al ( 2019 ) 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 Good 14. Martin-Storey and August ( 2016 ) 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 Fair 15.…”

“…Luk et al ( 2018 ) Longitudinal n = 2396 99 LGB, 2080 non-LGB Nationally representative sample of adolescents and young adults USA Family satisfaction Peer support Cyberbullying victimization Unmet medical needs 13. Luk et al ( 2019 ) Longitudinal n = 2012 1839 H, 37 LG, 104 BI, 32 Q National cohort study of adolescents USA Cyber behaviors (weekday time spent on cyber behavior, weekend time spent on cyber behavior, social media use) 14. Martin-Storey and August ( 2016 ) Cross sectional n = 251 93 LGB, 158 non-LGB University and college students Southwestern city, USA Harassment due to gender nonconformity Harassment due to sexual minority status 15.…”

“…Peer support was not found to mediate the association as it was not associated with sexual minority status 13. Luk et al ( 2019 ) SEM Bootstrapping Controlling for ethnicity and family affluence, bisexual attraction in adolescence was both directly and indirectly associated with higher depressive symptoms during young adulthood through increased time spent on cyber behaviors (weekday and weekend) and social media. These mediation associations were not found when comparing to gay/lesbian and questioning groups to heterosexuals as these groups did not differ in cyber behaviors and social media use compared to heterosexual youth.…”

“…Further research can aim to develop a better understanding of the distinct issues and outcomes that different sexual minority groups face. For example, there is some evidence to suggest that bisexuals may have especially high risk for mental health problems (Burns et al, 2016 ; Hughes et al, 2014 ; Luk et al, 2019 ; Needham & Austin, 2010 ). Groups identifying as mostly heterosexual are also poorly understood with some research included in this review reporting similar or worse outcomes for them compared to other sexual minority groups (Corliss et al, 2009 ).…”

“…Peer support was not found to mediate the association as it was not associated with sexual minority status 13. Luk et al (2019) SEM Bootstrapping…”