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Cited by 62LGBTQ Health, Identity, and PolicyRacial and Ethnic Identity ResearchHIV/AIDS Research and Interventions

Sexual orientation disparities in mental health and substance use among Black American young people in the USA: effects of cyber and bias-based victimisation

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Mereish, Ethan H., Sheskier, Mikela, Hawthorne, David J., Goldbach, Jeremy T.·2019·Culture, Health & Sexuality
DOI 10.1080/13691058.2018.1532113PMC PMC6602804
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Abstract

Few studies have explored sexual orientation disparities in mental health and substance use outcomes among racial minorities. This study examined sexual orientation disparities in depression, suicidality and substance use among Black American young people in the USA, and the mediating role of cyber and bias-based victimisation in accounting for these disparities. Secondary analyses were performed on data from a probability sample of young people (N = 1,129) collected in a school district in the south-eastern USA. Participants reported socio-demographics, depressive symptoms, suicidality, substance use and experiences of bias-based and cyber victimisation. With some exceptions, Black participants who were lesbian, gay, bisexual or mostly heterosexual reported higher rates of depression, suicidal ideation, suicide planning and substance use than Black heterosexual participants. Black lesbian, gay, bisexual and mostly heterosexual participants reported more cyber and bias-based victimisation than Black heterosexual participants. Sexual orientation disparities in mental health and, to some extent, substance use were partially explained by both forms of victimisation. Further research is needed to address the role of bias-based and cyber victimisation in disparities in mental health and substance use among Black sexual minority young people. The present study carries implications for prevention and treatment efforts for racially diverse sexual minorities.

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  • Gender minorities are more likely to experience mental health problems and more likely to experience online victimization when compared to heterosexual individuals.

    “these individuals are more likely to experience mental health problems and more likely to experience online victimization when compared to heterosexual individuals (Mereish, Sheskier, Hawthorne, & Goldbach, 2019)”

    From Social Media and Mental Health: Benefits, Risks, and Opportunities for Research and Practice (2020) · cites this paper as Mereish, Sheskier, Hawthorne, & Goldbach, 2019

    The Results ('Depressive symptoms, suicidality, substance use, and victimisation') report higher rates of depressive symptoms and cyber victimisation among Black sexual minority young people than among heterosexual participants. The claim says 'gender minorities,' but the study compares groups by sexual orientation, not gender-minority status. (LLM, conf=0.88)

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Cites

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Authors
Mereish, E. H., Sheskier, M., Hawthorne, D. J., & Goldbach, J. T.
Affiliations
  • American University (US)
  • University of Southern California (US)
Corresponding author
Mereish, Ethan H.
ORCID
Venue
Culture, Health & Sexuality
Publisher
Informa UK Limited
Published
2019-01-02
Volume
21
Issue
9
Pages
985-998
ISSN
  • 1369-1058 (ISSN-L)
  • 1464-5351
DOI
10.1080/13691058.2018.1532113
PMC
PMC6602804
OpenAlex
W2906814179
Cited by
62
References
8
Citations by year
2026: 8 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 2
FWCI
7.85
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Culture Health & Sexuality (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (K08-AA025011)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › LGBTQ Health, Identity, and Policy
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Racial and Ethnic Identity Research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Infectious Diseases › HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions
Keywords
sexual orientation disparities, cyber victimization, depression, suicidality, substance use, racial minorities, mediation
MeSH terms
Sexual and Gender Minorities, Cyberbullying, Adolescent, Black or African American, Child, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Humans, Male, Mental Health, Surveys and Questionnaires, Sexual Behavior, United States, Crime Victims, Substance-Related Disorders, Heterosexuality, Health Status Disparities, Suicidal Ideation

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