Sexual Health Risks and Protective Resources in Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Heterosexual Homeless Youth

Rew, Lynn; Whittaker, Tiffany A.; Taylor-Seehafer, Margaret A.; Smith, Lorie R.

doi:10.1111/j.1088-145x.2005.00003.x

Cited by 137 publications

(97 citation statements)

References 36 publications

(47 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…29 In general, sexual minority adolescents report negative health disparities compared to heterosexual adolescents due to increased risk of experiencing minority stress-related stressors, including bullying, verbal abuse, violence, and social marginalization. 30 Such experiences of discrimination have been documented to be associated with dropping out of school, running away, and being kicked out of parental homes, 14,17,31,32 resulting in developmental trajectories that place such sexual minority young persons at increased risk. Family rejection has been reported to be significantly associated with negative health outcomes for white and Latino gay and lesbian adolescents, including depressive symptoms, drug use, sexual risk behavior, and suicide attempts.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Modeling Minority Stress Effects on Homelessness and Health Disparities among Young Men Who Have Sex with Men

2014

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Sexual minority youth are more likely to experience homelessness, and homeless sexual minority youth report greater risk for mental health and substance abuse symptoms than homeless heterosexual youth, yet few studies have assessed determinants that help explain the disparities. Minority stress theory proposes that physical and mental health disparities among sexual minority populations may be explained by the stress produced by living in heterosexist social environments characterized by stigma and discrimination directed toward sexual minority persons. We used data from a sample of 200 young men who have sex with men (YMSM) (38 % African American, 26.5 % Latino/Hispanic, 23.5 % White, 12 % multiracial/other) to develop an exploratory path model measuring the effects of experience and internalization of sexual orientation stigma on depression and substance use via being kicked out of home due to sexual orientation and current homelessness. Direct significant paths were found from experience of sexual orientation-related stigma to internalization of sexual orientation-related stigma, having been kicked out of one's home, experiencing homelessness during the past year, and major depressive symptoms during the past week. Having been kicked out of one's home had a direct significant effect on experiencing homelessness during the past 12 months and on daily marijuana use. Internalization of sexual orientation-related stigma and experiencing homelessness during the past 12 months partially mediated the direct effect of experience of sexual orientation-related stigma on major depressive symptoms. Our empirical testing of the effects of minority stress on health of YMSM advances minority stress theory as a framework for investigating health disparities among this population.

show abstract

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Modeling Minority Stress Effects on Homelessness and Health Disparities among Young Men Who Have Sex with Men

2014

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…For instance, estimates have suggested that sexual and gender minorities comprise between 22.4 and 40 % of homeless youth. 9,10 Reasons for this increased risk of homelessness can include family conflict, 11 disapproval of sexual orientation, 12,13 or stressful experiences such as childhood sexual abuse. 14 The reason that sexual minority individuals become homeless may in turn be related to their experiences later on, for example, young sexual minority men who were kicked out of their homes were more likely to have daily marijuana use or to have experienced recent homelessness.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Mental and Physical Health among Homeless Sexual and Gender Minorities in a Major Urban US City

et al. 2016

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Sexual and gender minorities have been shown to have greater rates of mental health, substance use disorders, and specific types of health problems compared to heterosexuals. Among the homeless population in several US urban areas, sexual and gender minorities are overrepresented but few studies have examined the mental and physical health status of homeless sexual and gender minorities, with studies on homeless gender minorities being particularly hard to find. Using survey data obtained from the city and county of San Francisco (2015 Homeless Survey), this study examined differences in causes of homelessness, physical and mental health problems, and domestic violence among homeless sexual and gender minorities and their heterosexual and cisgender (i.e., non-transgender) counterparts, respectively. Lesbians and bisexual women, and gay and bisexual men did not differ from their cisgender heterosexual counterparts. Cisgender men who identified as queer or Bother^in response to sexual orientation questions had higher rates of psychiatric problems and posttraumatic stress disorder, while cisgender women who identified as queer or Bother^had higher rates of psychiatric problems and drug and alcohol use. Transgender men who were homeless were found to be particularly at risk for physical health problems, mental health problems, and domestic violence or abuse. Transgender women were more likely to report posttraumatic stress disorder. This study suggests that transgender men and cisgender sexual minority men and women who identify as queer or Bother^are groups among the homeless that may benefit from increased outreach and services.

show abstract

“…A lthough research has demonstrated that homeless youth in general experience high rates of victimization on the streets (Baron, 1997;Baron, 2003;Hagan & McCarthy, 1997;Tyler, Hoyt, Whitbeck, & Cauce, 2001b;, some research has found that gay, lesbian, and bisexual homeless youth experience more victimization compared to their heterosexual counterparts because of their higher rates of sexual and/or physical abuse in the home (Cochran, Stewart, Ginzler, & Cauce, 2002;Rew, Whittaker, Taylor-Seehafer, & Smith, 2005;Whitbeck, Chen, Hoyt, Tyler, & Johnson, 2004), stressors associated with their sexual orientation (D'Augelli, Hershberger, & Pilkington, 1998;Martin & Hetrick, 1988;Pilkington & D'Augelli, 1995), and bias-related crimes (Herek, Cogan, & Gillis, 2002;Willis, 2004). Also, because research finds that gay, lesbian, and bisexual (GLB) youth are more likely to lack family support (D'Augelli, 1998), have family difficulties, and run away or be expelled from home (Cochran et al, 2002;Martin & Hetrick, 1988;Remafedi, 1987;Savin-Williams, 1994), they may be less likely to return home and, consequently, have fewer resources available.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

A Comparison of Risk Factors for Sexual Victimization Among Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Heterosexual Homeless Young Adults

Tyler¹

2008

Violence Vict

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Although high rates of sexual victimization have been reported among homeless youth, less is known about whether the risk factors vary for gay, lesbian, and bisexual youth compared to heterosexual youth. Based on a sample of 172 homeless young adults ages 19 to 26, results revealed that depressive symptoms, prostitution, and having friends who traded sex were significantly associated with higher levels of sexual victimization. Gay, lesbian, and bisexual young adults experienced more sexual victimization compared to heterosexual young adults. A test for interactions revealed that the effect of sexual orientation on sexual victimization was moderated by trading sex and having friends who traded sex. Finally, there is support for partial mediation of the effects of sexual abuse, neglect, and depressive symptoms on sexual victimization through other risk factors.

show abstract

Sexual Health Risks and Protective Resources in Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Heterosexual Homeless Youth

Abstract: Sexual health interventions for this population should be both gender- and sexual orientation-specific.

Cited by 137 publications

References 36 publications

Modeling Minority Stress Effects on Homelessness and Health Disparities among Young Men Who Have Sex with Men

Modeling Minority Stress Effects on Homelessness and Health Disparities among Young Men Who Have Sex with Men

Mental and Physical Health among Homeless Sexual and Gender Minorities in a Major Urban US City

A Comparison of Risk Factors for Sexual Victimization Among Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Heterosexual Homeless Young Adults

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About