A positive identity may be a key factor in the lives of young people with a lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, or other sexual minority identity (LGBQ+). This study examined how levels of positive LGBQ+ identity varied based on demographic factors and investigated the protective role of positive LGBQ+ identity with depression among LGBQ+ young adults living in the South of the United States. The study was based on cross-sectional data from a sample of 79 LGBQ+ participants (aged 18-28 years) in a Southeastern state. Descriptive results suggest that participants reported moderate to high levels of positive LGBQ+ identity on average. Multiple linear regression models were run with positive LGBQ+ identity, depression, and demographic variables. Results show that positive LGBQ+ identity was inversely related to age and positively related to education level. No significant results were found for race/ethnicity, sex, or gender identity and positive identity. Positive LGBQ+ identity was negatively associated with depressive symptoms. Our findings expand the evidence on relations among demographics, positive LGBQ+ identity, and depressive symptoms. Cultivating a positive LGBQ+ identity is likely an important target for intervention programs, mental health services, and social policies supporting LGBQ+ young people.

Sexual and gender minority youth (SGMY) face elevated mental health risks compared to their cisgender and heterosexual peers. However, insights from Minority Stress Theory (MST) and prevention science suggest that school-level factors may serve as buffers against the elevated mental health risks faced by SGMY. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review to examine school-level factors that mitigate risks or promote mental health among SGMY. Following the PRISMA protocol, we searched the literature published from 2000 to 2024 using PsycINFO, ERIC, CINAHL, PubMed, and Scopus. Thirty-six quantitative studies and one qualitative study met the inclusion criteria. Guided by MST and the social-ecological framework, we delineated 10 categories of school-level general and SGM-specific factors. Results highlight the important roles of SGM-inclusive resources, policies, GSA effectiveness, SGM-affirming climate, school connectedness, and social support in schools. This study provides actionable insights for educators, policymakers, and researchers to promote better school environments and develop and implement prevention and intervention strategies to reduce mental health risks and promote well-being among SGMY.

Purpose This study aims to explore students’ perspectives on the process through which their experiences in the Distress Tolerance Program influenced how they understood and managed distress. Design/methodology/approach This qualitative study explored social work students’ perspectives on the process of change while participating in the digital Distress Tolerance Program. In total, 77 students (94% female; 61% white) enrolled in social work bachelor’s or master’s degree programs in the southeastern region of the USA took part in this study. Using a grounded theory approach, reflection papers and open-ended responses were analyzed. Findings This study developed the distress management model for students which depicts a three-stage progression: (1) building self-awareness of stress symptoms, values and productivity patterns; (2) applying distress tolerance strategies to daily life; and (3) developing confidence in managing overwhelming stress. Participants described learning practical strategies that they perceived as relevant to educational, professional and personal contexts. Participants reported that engaging with distress tolerance skills increased their awareness of stress and motivated more proactive coping. The high retention rate (99%) suggests that the asynchronous digital program format was acceptable and feasible for participants. Originality/value The authors extend prior research that has examined the benefits of distress tolerance interventions across student populations. Rather than focusing solely on intervention outcomes, this work contributes to the literature by centering students’ perspectives on how they interpret and make sense of their experiences when learning distress tolerance strategies.

Background: Compared to heterosexual adults, sexual minority or queer adults are at an elevated risk for depression and suicidal ideation. Studies have established relationships between minority stress, such as internalized sexual orientation stigma (ISOS), depression, and suicidality. However, no known research has explored relationships between implicit ISOS, explicit ISOS, depression, and suicidality. Methods: The present study uses data from a large national two-wave quantitative panel survey study using a diverse sample of sexual minority adults from the United States (N = 500). Implicit ISOS was measured using a newly developed instrument, the Implicit Internalized Sexual Orientation Stigma Affect Misattribution Procedure (Internal-SOS-AMP). Confirmatory factor analysis was used to evaluate a one-factor model. General structural equation modeling was used to explore pathways and relationships between implicit ISOS, explicit ISOS, depression, and suicidal ideation. Results: Based on prior theory and research, our model is presented depicting relationships between implicit ISOS as a first order factor, explicit ISOS, depressive symptoms, and suicidal ideation. The presented model indicates a statistically significant positive relationship between implicit ISOS and explicit ISOS (β = 0.14, p < .01). As explicit ISOS increased, individuals also reported greater depressive symptoms (β = 0.29, p < .001). Individuals with higher depression levels were about 2.38 times more likely to endorse suicidal ideation in the last month compared to those reporting less depressive symptoms. Age was significantly, inversely related to suicidal ideation endorsement. For each 1-year increase in age, the odds of endorsing suicidal ideation within the last month decreased by approximately 1.5%. Conclusions: Suicide prevention efforts with sexual minority individuals should pay particular attention to developmental considerations for young adult subgroups and be responsive to the distinct forms of implicit and explicit ISOS, and mechanisms that drive the health disparities. Future research suggestions and implications related to sexual minority suicide prevention are discussed.

Queer people experience high rates of depression and suicidality and are more likely to seek and use mental health services compared to heterosexual people. Few studies have investigated how mental health service experiences regarding sexual orientation and satisfaction/dissatisfaction with these services may be related to demographic characteristics and mental health outcomes among queer people. A national sample of 500 queer adults (Mage = 33.7, SD = 10.0; 60% female; 86% cisgender) in the United States completed an online survey that measured demographic characteristics, depressive symptoms, suicidal outcomes (ideation, planning, and attempts), mental health service experience about sexual orientation, and degree of helpfulness/unhelpfulness of these services. Results showed 39% of participants had talked with a mental health professional about their sexual orientation. Among those, 58% found the experience to be helpful to some degree, 24% found the experience to be unhelpful to some degree, and 18% found the experience neither unhelpful nor helpful. Regression results indicate that compared to individuals who had never talked with a mental health professional about their sexual orientation, those who had an unhelpful experience reported slightly higher levels of depressive symptoms, were nearly three times more likely to have seriously considered suicide, and were nearly four times more likely to have attempted suicide. Lack of education and training for mental health professionals about queer-specific issues, experiences, language, and affirmative practice may contribute to unhelpful experiences. Improvements in training, services, and policies are needed so that service use is helpful and not associated with elevated depression and suicidality. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).

PURPOSE:We examined the associations of sexual orientation and gender identity change efforts (SOGICE), both experienced over the lifetime and before adulthood, with demographic characteristics and a wide range of mental health outcomes in a sample of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and other sexual and gender minority (LGBTQ+) adults. METHODS:The analytic sample was 3023 LGBTQ+ adults (Mage = 31.59) from a cross-sectional survey conducted in 2024 in North Carolina. Participants reported SOGICE experiences during their lifetime and before age 18, past-year mental health conditions (i.e., depression, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety disorder, gender dysphoria, eating disorder, nonsuicidal self-injury, suicidal thought, and suicide attempt), and past-2-week anxiety and depressive symptoms. Bivariate regression models and multivariate regression models were tested on the associations between SOGICE experiences and mental health conditions. RESULTS:Reports of SOGICE experiences were higher among those assigned male at birth compared with those assigned female at birth, Black participants compared with White participants, and transgender and gender-diverse participants compared with cisgender participants. In multivariate models, lifetime SOGICE was associated with three out of nine mental health conditions. In multivariate models, experiencing SOGICE before age 18 was associated with higher odds of five out of nine mental health conditions. CONCLUSION:Our study demonstrates that SOGICE experiences, particularly before adulthood, were associated with multiple severe mental health conditions. These findings reinforce calls from professional organizations to end SOGICE due to its threat to LGBTQ+ well-being and to support legislative efforts to ban such practices.

Transgender and nonbinary (TGNB) adults broadly face elevated risk of self-injurious thoughts and behaviors in comparison to their cisgender peers, and even higher risk among those with experiences of gender dysphoria. Prior research has largely focused on transgender populations, with limited attention to nonbinary individuals, particularly in states with hostile policy contexts and increasingly restricted gender affirming care. A cross-sectional survey was administered at 36 LGBTQ+ Pride events across North Carolina. The analytic sample included 1,109 TGNB respondents (30.7

BackgroundLittle is known about whether and to what extent family factors associated with risky sexual behaviors, such as experiencing commercial sexual exploitation (CSE) or having prior sexually transmitted infections (STIs), differ across risk groups of adolescents.MethodsWe conducted secondary analysis of a nationally representative dataset. Latent class analysis was used to assess heterogeneity in family characteristics and childhood adversity within classes of 1,018 adolescents who engaged in risky sexual behaviors, as evidenced by a self-reported STI and/or involvement in CSE. Participants were on average 15.49 years old (SD = 1.34), 50% female, and 58% people of color.ResultsA five-class solution was deemed optimal. These classes were labeled: abused/neglected/unloved (12%); disengaged dad/connected mom (16%); disengaged mom/minimally present dad (9%); connected and active parents (35%); and hiding in plain sight class (15%). Adolescents who were CSE-impacted represented 49% of the analytic sample and were observed across all five classes in differing yet not insignificant proportions (i.e., ranging from 37% to 60%). Findings illustrate significant variability in family patterns and differences marked by demographic and sexual risk characteristics.FindingsThe presence of CSE-impacted adolescents across latent classes speaks to the hidden nature of this crime and complexities related to CSE risk. Family relationships are often assumed to be protective against CSE. However, these findings point to considerable complexity in understanding how family functioning relates to CSE. Research that allows for longitudinal or retrospective analysis to understand how families were functioning at the time of CSE initiation, would help in delineating what types of families are most protective against CSE for adolescents.

PurposeDisparities in the behavioral health outcomes for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer+ (LGBTQ+) adults-such as depression, anxiety, and alcohol use-are often attributed to experiences of discrimination, victimization, and lack of supportive environments, including hetero- and cis-normative family settings. Yet, how family environments in childhood influence LGBTQ+ adults' behavioral health and internalized homonegativity has not been extensively examined.MethodsThis study utilized a U.S. national dataset of LGBTQ+ adults (N = 499). Data were collected in November 2020 using an online survey. A series of multivariate ordinary least squares regression models and Sobel tests were performed.ResultsResults showed that as homophobic messages from family increased, levels of depression (β = .19, p < .001), anxiety (β = .17, p < .001), and internalized homonegativity (β = .13, p < .01) increased. As the conservatism level in families increased, levels of alcohol use (β = .11, p < .05), and internalized homonegativity (β = .15, p < .01) increased. In the mediation analysis, internalized homonegativity was found to partially mediate the relationship between homophobic messages from family and depression (z = 3.35, p < .001), homophobic messages and anxiety (z = 3.09, p < .01), and conservatism in family and alcohol use (z = 2.80, p < 0.01). Internalized homonegativity also fully mediated the relationship between homophobic messages and alcohol use (z = 2.66, p < 0.01), conservatism in family and depression (z = 3.76, p < 0.001), and conservatism in family and anxiety (z = 3.45, p < 0.001).ConclusionStudy findings underscore the importance of inclusive climates within a family and internalized homonegativity as a mediator for LGBTQ+ individuals' behavioral health. Implications for intervention and future research are discussed.

Sexual and gender diverse youth (SGDY) face higher rates of internalizing problems than their heterosexual and cisgender peers. Positive parent-child relationships are a central influence on the development of youth internalizing problems. Yet supportive parenting of SGDY is vastly understudied. Scholars have emphasized the need for improved measures of parenting SGDY, especially in terms of identity-specific parental support. In this qualitative exploratory study, we outline supportive parenting practices specific to SGDY identities, which we term affirmative parenting. We interviewed 15 SGDY (ages 18-25) via 3 focus groups on Zoom about how their parents support their SGDY identities and their mental health. Thematic qualitative analysis revealed 6 domains of affirmative parenting associated with positive SGDY mental health, including (1) informational support; (2) emotional support; (3) interpersonal support; (4) public celebration and acknowledgement; and two cross-cutting themes (5) proactive support; and (6) evolution of support. Affirmative parenting encompasses behaviors within the parent-child relationship as well as parental support to help SGDY navigate external contexts. Findings identify key behaviors to measure in future studies of parenting SGDY. Our study also provides a conceptual framework for affirmative parenting that informs the development of future interventions targeting parents of SGDY youth and their families, as well as practitioners working with such families.

BACKGROUND:Sexual minority (SM) individuals have alarmingly high rates of victimization during childhood and adolescence, potentially leading to adverse outcomes. Despite this, research on diverse patterns of childhood victimization among SM individuals and their long-term impacts is limited. OBJECTIVE:This study uses latent class analysis (LCA) to explore the heterogeneity of childhood victimization among SM individuals and investigate how these patterns relate to mental health and victimization in adulthood. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING:The sample included 564 sexual minority young adults (Mage = 22.15, SD = 2.39) from a national probability online survey in the United States. METHODS:We conducted LCA on eight items to assess various types of childhood violence exposure. Kruskal-Wallis tests and Chi-square tests were used to explore differences in adult victimization and mental health outcomes across class membership. RESULTS:The LCA revealed a three-class model: high family violence exposure (Class 1, 27.3 %), high sexual and family violence exposure (Class 2, 21.1 %), and low violence exposure (Class 3, 51.6 %). Individuals in Classes 1 and 2 exhibited significantly higher levels of psychological distress, suicidal behaviors, and adulthood victimization compared to those in Class 3. CONCLUSIONS:Our findings shed light on the complex patterns of childhood victimization among SM individuals. The results underscore the need for targeted support and intervention services to address childhood victimization as a risk factor for adulthood mental health and victimization exposure within SM populations.

The commercial sexual exploitation (CSE) of children is a distinct form of sexual trauma, resulting in immediate mental health issues. Few studies explore associations between family-level factors in adolescence and health outcomes in adulthood among this population. Utilizing a nationally representative dataset, we explored differences and associations between mental health outcomes and domains of the Family Health Development framework among respondents who self-reported CSE (N = 502; mean age = 15.03, SD = 1.34; 67% male; 50% white). We conducted ordinary least squares and binary logistic regressions using a hierarchical approach to analyze the CES-D depression scale, anxious personality scale, and self-reported diagnoses of depression and anxiety/panic disorder. At Wave IV, when participants were aged 24–32, 20% of participants reported ever having a diagnosis of depression, and 12% reported ever having an anxiety/panic disorder diagnosis. Family receipt of public assistance during adolescence significantly predicted depression and anxiety symptoms in adulthood, highlighting associations between family structure and mental health. Gender and race significantly predicted anxiety symptoms and having a diagnosis of depression and anxiety/panic disorder. Findings underscore the need for targeted training and comprehensive health screenings for providers to better understand and address the long-term mental health needs of CSE-impacted groups.

BACKGROUND:Young people who hold both a Black and LGBTQ+ identity (e.g., lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer) are facing increasingly high levels of suicide risk. Very few studies have investigated risk factors that contribute to suicidality among Black LGBTQ+ young adults, many of whom live in the southeastern United States, including North Carolina. This study aims to investigate the risk factors that impact the Black LGBTQ+ young adult population. METHODS:Data were collected through a cross-sectional survey in North Carolina from June-October 2023. The analytic sample includes 361 Black LGBTQ+ young people aged 18-34 years, a developmental period where individuals transition out of adolescence and into adulthood. Analyses include descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression modeling predicting suicidal ideation and suicide attempts as outcomes using predictor variables from multiple domains (i.e., demographics, psychological disorders, substance use, exposure to discrimination and violence, and poverty). RESULTS:About one-third of participants considered suicide at some point in their lives, and nearly one-fifth of participants attempted suicide. Results also show that food scarcity was associated with suicidal ideation. Among substances, alcohol consumption increased risk for suicidal ideations while cocaine/crack use increased risk for suicide attempts. Having a psychological disorder (i.e., depression, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety disorder, gender dysphoria, and eating disorder) increased risk for suicidal ideation and/or attempt. Implications for suicide prevention and future research are discussed. LIMITATIONS:Study limitations included convenience sampling, cross-sectional data, lack of variables unique to the population group, and measurement of lifetime suicidality. CONCLUSIONS:Black LGBTQ+ young people report high rates of suicidality. Intervening to mitigate food scarcity, alcohol consumption, cocaine use, and mental health challenges may reduce suicidality among Black LGBTQ+ young people.

BackgroundMinority stress theory views social support as a protective factor against the effects of minority-specific stressors like internalized homophobia (IH) on mental health in sexual minority populations. However, much of the empirical validation of this theory has been conducted within predominantly White samples, resulting in a limited understanding of how the theory applies to Black sexual minority individuals. Current examinations of social support fail to capture the nuances of how Black sexual minority men may access support systems differently, resulting in a need to investigate how social support, IH, and mental health operate for Black sexual minority men. This study examined relationships between IH, depression, and different types of social support (i.e., family, friends, Black community, gay community) using a mediation model.MethodsWe used data from the POWER (Promoting Our Worth Equity and Resilience) Study, which recruited Black sexual minority men at Black Pride events across six cities in the United States from 2014 to 2017, to test four mediation pathways concurrently in Stata 17. Participants (N = 4,430) completed a questionnaire assessing a variety of health and life domains, including depression symptoms, internalized homophobia, and social support.ResultsIH was positively associated with depression. Lower levels of family, friend, and Black community support were all positively associated with depression symptoms. Additionally, IH was positively associated with all types of support. Finally, family, friend, and Black community support partially mediated the relationship between IH and depression.Conclusions and implicationsResults suggest that the relationship between social support and depression is complex for Black sexual minority men. Findings suggest family support is an important factor for clinical intervention efforts targeting depression, and that gay community support systems should assess how their environments can better support Black sexual minority men. Overall, findings demonstrate the necessity of future examination of how social support functions differently within Black sexual minority communities.

Queer young adults report significantly higher levels of anxiety and depression than their heterosexual counterparts, which is linked to sexual minority stress. Therefore, it is important to understand the coping strategies employed by this population to navigate minority stress and how coping strategies may impact mental health outcomes. Drawing from a U.S. national diverse sample of 387 queer young adults (ages 18-39 years), we analyzed descriptive results of 11 behavioral strategies to cope with minority stress and used ordered logistic and linear regression to examine the following objectives: the frequency of the use of each coping strategy, and the associations between each strategy and demographic characteristics as well as depression and anxiety. Results revealed that avoidance and talking with friends were the most frequently utilized coping strategies, while prayer/religious activities and counseling/psychotherapy/support groups were infrequently used. We examined utilization preferences of coping strategies across demographic factors (e.g., assigned sex at birth and sexual orientation). The use of counseling/psychotherapy/support group was positively associated with mental health symptoms, while exercise and mindfulness/mediation were associated with lower mental health symptoms. Our findings provide insights for mental health researchers and professionals in selecting appropriate coping strategies for queer young adults in prevention and intervention efforts.

Children provide important testimony about events such as child abuse and family conflict. Explicit measures have demonstrated that adults rate child witnesses as more honest than adult witnesses. However, no study has examined this child-honesty bias at the implicit level. Across two preregistered studies, we tested a total of 386 younger adults and 382 older adults via Prolific. Study 2 served as a direct replication of Study 1. Participants completed implicit (modified Implicit Association Test) and explicit (self-report) measures to assess their impressions of child and adult honesty. Only women were implicitly biased to associate honest words with children over adults, but both men and women held a child-honesty bias at the explicit level, and this remained stable across younger and older adults. These results suggest that only women hold positive implicit biases toward children, and this may play a role in how adults handle children's disclosures of information.

Introduction: This article describes the development and initial validation of a measure of implicit internalized stigma among queer people, the Implicit Internalized Sexual Orientation Stigma Affect Misattribution Procedure (Internal-SOS-AMP), a computer-administered sequential priming procedure. Methods: The creation of the Internal-SOS-AMP involved a mixed-methods approach, including a literature review, expert interviews, stimuli selection and pilot testing, data collection from a large sample, reliability testing, correlational analyses, and confirmatory factor analysis. Psychometric testing was conducted with a national sample of 500 queer adults who completed two waves of data collection. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to evaluate two models: a one-factor model with internalized stigma specified as one overall construct and a two-factor model with internalized stigma specified as two constructs based on binary conceptions of gender (stigma regarding queer women and stigma regarding queer men). Results: Results showed that the two-factor model best fit the data. This indicates that although implicit attitudes toward queer men and women are highly correlated, implicit internalized stigma differentiated by two gender stimuli groups (men and women) more accurately reflects the data. There was evidence of convergent validity as Internal-SOS-AMP scores showed small positive associations with explicit internalized stigma. Regarding divergent validity, Internal-SOS-AMP scores were inversely related to affirmation of a queer identity. Reliability results for the Internal-SOS-AMP showed good internal consistency and acceptable test-retest reliability. Discussion: The creation of the Internal-SOS-AMP used best practices for measurement development. Psychometric findings show strong evidence of content validity, convergent validity, divergent validity, and reliability of the Internal-SOS-AMP.

The SAFE model asserts that state authenticity stems from three types of fit to the environment. Across two studies of university students, we validated instruments measuring self-concept, goal, and social fit as unique predictors of state authenticity. In Study 1 ( N = 969), relationships between fit and state authenticity were robust to controlling for conceptually similar and distinct variables. Using experience sampling methodology, Study 2 ( N = 269) provided evidence that fit and authenticity co-vary at the state (i.e., within-person) level, controlling for between-person effects. Momentary variation in each fit type predicted greater state authenticity, willingness to return to the situation, and state attachment to one’s university. Each fit type was also predicted by distinct contextual features (e.g., location, activity, company). Supporting a theorized link to cognitive fluency, situations eliciting self-concept fit elicited higher working memory capacity and lower emotional burnout. We discuss the implications of fit in educational contexts.

In the present work, we addressed the relationship between parental leave policies and social norms. Using a pre-registered, cross-national approach, we examined the relationship between parental leave policies and the perception of social norms for the gender division of childcare. In this study, 19,259 students (11,924 women) from 48 countries indicated the degree to which they believe childcare is (descriptive norm) and should be (prescriptive norm) equally divided among mothers and fathers. Policies were primarily operationalized as the existence of parental leave options in the respective country. The descriptive and prescriptive norms of equal division of childcare were stronger when parental leave was available in a country - also when controlling for potential confounding variables. Moreover, analyses of time since policy change suggested that policy change may initially affect prescriptive norms and then descriptive norms at a later point. However, due to the cross-sectional nature of the data, drawing causal inferences is difficult.

This study examined current evidence on children's pathways into commercial sexual exploitation (CSE) in the United States to determine if characteristics, vulnerabilities, and social contexts were distinguishable by age, gender, race/ethnicity, and location. Using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses guidelines, peer-reviewed studies and grey literature were included if they were focused on CSE pathways prior to age 18, available in English, U.S. based, and published in or after 2013. In total, 1,989 articles were screened and 306 were eligible for full-text review. In total, 22 studies were analyzed. Nine studies focused on cis girls or women. No studies exclusively focused on CSE among cis boys, gender diverse children, children identifying as LGBTQ+, or children initiated from infancy through preadolescence. Findings indicate that boys and girls at different life stages were initiated into CSE by five pathways, including: (a) family members and caregivers' paramours; (b) romantic partners; (c) peers, friends, and acquaintances; (d) strangers; and (e) circumstantial need. Girls and boys in infancy, toddlerhood, and preadolescence and across rural-urban classifications were exploited by family members, parent's romantic partners, and acquaintances known to their family. Adolescent girls, including those with intellectual disabilities, were trafficked by boyfriends, strangers, and out of circumstantial needs. This is the first review to provide a contemporary overview of dynamics that marked children's CSE pathways from infancy through adolescence. Findings revealed need for future research on CSE-impacted boys, gender diverse and LGBTQ+ children, and intellectually challenged children across early life stages and geographic areas.