![]() ![]() ![]() However, there is a paucity of research on transgender adolescents that comes from larger population-based samples, such as the YRBS surveys, because these surveys do not ask questions to identify transgender youth.Įxplanations for Increased Levels of Emotional Distress among LGBT Youth All of those reporting having attempted suicide attributed their urge to take their own lives to being transgender. In a study based on a convenience sample of 55 transgender youth aged to 15-21 years, the authors found that more than one-fourth reported a prior suicide attempt ( Grossman & D'Augelli, 2007). 14%).Ī much smaller body of research suggests that adolescents who identify as transgender or transsexual also experience increased emotional distress ( Di Ceglie, Freedman, McPherson, & Richardson, 2002 Grossman & D'Augelli, 2006 Grossman & D'Augelli, 2007). ![]() Those data also showed that lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth were more than twice as likely as heterosexual youth to have considered attempting suicide in the past year (31% vs. ![]() Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance (YRBS) system showed that 40% of youth who reported a minority sexual orientation indicated feeling sad or hopeless in the past two weeks, compared to 26% of heterosexual youth ( District of Columbia Public Schools, 2007). For instance, data from the 2007 Washington, D.C. Perceived discrimination is a likely contributor to emotional distress among LGBT youth.Īccumulating evidence indicates that adolescents who have same-sex sexual attractions, who have had sexual or romantic relationships with persons of the same sex, or who identify as lesbian, gay, or bisexual are more likely than heterosexual adolescents to exhibit symptoms of emotional distress, including depressive symptoms, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts ( Faulkner & Cranston, 1998 Fergusson, Horwood, & Beautrais, 1999 Galliher, Rostosky, & Hughes, 2004 Garofalo, Wolf, Kessel, Palfrey, & DuRant, 1998 Garofalo, Wolf, Wissow, Woods, & Goodman, 1999 Lock & Steiner, 1999 Remafedi, French, Story, Resnick, & Blum, 1998 Russell & Consolacion, 2003 Russell & Joyner, 2001 Safren & Heimberg, 1999 Ueno, 2005). Mediation analyses showed that perceived discrimination accounted for increased depressive symptomatology among LGBT males and females, and accounted for an elevated risk of self-harm and suicidal ideation among LGBT males. They were also more likely than heterosexual, non-transgendered youth to report suicidal ideation (30% vs. LGBT youth scored significantly higher on the scale of depressive symptomatology. About 45% were Black, 31% were Hispanic, and 14% were White. Data come from a school-based survey in Boston, MA (n=1,032) 10% were LGBT, 58% were female, and age ranged from 13-19 years. The authors evaluated emotional distress among 9 th-12 th grade students, and examined whether the association between LGBT status and emotional distress was mediated by perceptions of having been treated badly or discriminated against because others thought they were gay or lesbian. ![]()
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