Mental Health of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Heterosexual Siblings: Effects of Gender, Sexual Orientation, and Family.
- 1 August 2005
- journal article
- research article
- Published by American Psychological Association (APA) in Journal of Abnormal Psychology
- Vol. 114 (3), 471-476
- https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-843x.114.3.471
Abstract
Self-identified lesbian, gay male, and bisexual (LGB) individuals were recruited via convenience sampling, and they in turn recruited their siblings (79% heterosexual, 19% LGB). The resulting sample of 533 heterosexual, 558 lesbian or gay male, and 163 bisexual participants was compared on mental health variables and their use of mental health services. Multilevel modeling analyses revealed that sexual orientation predicted suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, self-injurious behavior, use of psychotherapy, and use of psychiatric medications over and above the effects of family adjustment. Sexual orientation was unrelated to current psychological distress, psychiatric hospitalizations, and self-esteem. This is the 1st study to model family effects on the mental health of LGB participants and their siblings.Keywords
This publication has 11 references indexed in Scilit:
- Prejudice, social stress, and mental health in lesbian, gay, and bisexual populations: Conceptual issues and research evidence.Psychological Bulletin, 2003
- Prevalence of mental disorders, psychological distress, and mental health services use among lesbian, gay, and bisexual adults in the United States.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 2003
- Sexual orientation and mental health: results from a community survey of young and middle – aged adultsThe British Journal of Psychiatry, 2002
- Suicide attempts among sexual-minority youths: Population and measurement issues.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 2001
- Emerging issues in research on lesbians' and gay men's mental health: Does sexual orientation really matter?American Psychologist, 2001
- Lesbians and Their Sisters as a Control Group: Demographic and Mental Health FactorsPsychological Science, 2001
- A model of predictors and outcomes of outness among lesbian and bisexual women.American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 2001
- Genetic and environmental influences on sexual orientation and its correlates in an Australian twin sample.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 2000
- Caucasian Lesbians' Use of Psychotherapy: A Matter of Attitude?Psychology of Women Quarterly, 1992
- The Satisfaction With Life ScaleJournal of Personality Assessment, 1985