Sexual minority youth in romantic relationships: Associations with youth well‐being

Abstract

This study investigated differences in depressive symptoms, loneliness, and self‐esteem for monosexual (lesbian, gay) and plurisexual (bisexual, pansexual, queer) sexual minority youth (SMY) by relationship status (single, partnered) and relationship configuration (same‐gender partner, different‐gender partner). Participants included 338 SMY (Mage = 19.10 years) who reported on their relationship status, partner's gender identity, well‐being, and ability to confide in partner about LGBTQ issues. Results indicated that for plurisexual youth, single status was associated with greater loneliness; plurisexual youth with same‐gender partners reported fewer depressive symptoms and marginally greater ability to confide in their partner about LGBTQ issues than those with different‐gender partners. Findings reveal similarities across SMY while also highlighting some unique challenges among plurisexual youth with different‐gender partners.