Minority Stress in Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Young Adults in Australia Associations With Psychological Distress, Suicidality, and Substance Use
Minority Stress in Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Young Adults in Australia Associations With Psychological Distress, Suicidality, and Substance Use
Homophobic prejudice and stigma are often thought to underlie these disparities. In this study, the
relationship between such experiences of social derogation and mental health and substance use in
same-sex attracted young people was examined using Meyer’s minority stress theory.
An online survey recruited 254 young women and 318 young men who identified as same-sex attracted,
were aged 18–25 years, and lived in Sydney, Australia. Multivariate logistic regression analyses showed
that internalized homophobia, perceived stigma, and experienced homophobic physical abuse were
associated with higher levels of psychological distress and self-reported suicidal thoughts in the
previous month.
Further more,perceived stigma and homophobic physical abuse were associated with reporting a
lifetime suicide attempt.
The association between minority stress and substance use was inconsistent. While, as expected, higher
levels of perceived stigma were associated with club drug dependence, there was an inverse association
between internalized homophobia and club drug use, and between perceived stigma and hazardous
alcohol use.
The findings of this study provide support for the minority stress theory proposition that chronic social
stress due to sexual orientation is associated with poorer mental health. The high rates of mental health
and substance use problems in the current study suggest that same-sex attracted young people should
continue to be a priority population for mental health and substance use intervention and prevention.
Contrary to expectations, the relationship between minority stress and substance use was less consistent
and often in directions contrary to those hypothesised. Dependent club drug use was associated only with
higher levels of perceived stigma, lending some support to minority stress theory.
To the best of our knowledge, this was the first study to examine multivariate associations between these
minority stress indicators and multiple mental health and substance use outcomes. This study also was
the first to report an investigation of minority stress theory in an Australian setting.