Despite increasing societal acceptance of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender identities, a new study reports that adolescents and young adults with shifting sexual identities are more likely to experience depression. The study, conducted by sociologist Bethany Everett, used the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health to examine sexual identity, relationships, and mental health among 11,727 youth. By comparing gay, lesbian, and bisexual respondents reporting stable sexual identities with those whose sexual identities shifted or changed, Everett found that only those who changed toward same-sex-oriented identities were at increased risk of depression.
Everett explained her findings to The Economic Times, describing how negative stereotypes may weigh heavily on adolescents: “There is a certain amount of stigma attached to sexual fluidity that may impact mental health during this developmental period.” She also noted how social support might ease sexual identity transition, suggesting that, “supporting people during this time-period may be critical for improving their mental health.”
Comments 3
Jen Romanelli — April 17, 2015
Okay, we already know this. Also, where are the trans* people, non-binary queers, and queers of color? What about the oppressive systems that create the societal norms that reinforce heteropatriarchy, causing people who do not fit into these false binaries to experience this depressive (and, often, suicidal) state? This is where the future of research in this area resides.
Sarah Catherine Billups — April 18, 2015
I agree that for people who actively engage in sociology of gender and sexualities that it's so easy to see what is missing. The data set (Add Health) that Everett uses in her research has data from the early-mid 1990s up until 2008, but the questions in the survey are limited in their coverage of identities. I've found a continuous challenge for my friends who do quantitative research is that the big data sets they use do not always have all of the variables they want to investigate. I'm hopeful that we'll get data sets in the future that allow for a more inclusive quantitative study of identity.
Caty Taborda — April 18, 2015
My assumption is that by not including trans* respondents, the researcher is being careful to not conflate gender identity with sexual identity, which is an important intersection that this data set cannot responsibly capture. I agree with the frustrations about how limiting the data are, and that nothing about this finding is particularly shocking, but I'm hopeful that future research can move towards a more holistic understanding of marginalization and mental health.