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Objective: Prior research has demonstrated that discrimination is associated with suicidal ideation among bi+ individuals, but little is known about resilience factors (both general and bi+ specific) that may buffer these associations. This prospective study examined the main and interactive effects of antibisexual discrimination and resilience factors, including general resilience and positive bi+ identity factors (community, authenticity, and intimacy), in predicting suicidal ideation at 1- and 2-month follow-up. Method: Participants were bi+ young adults (N = 396; ages 18–29; 42.7% cisgender men, 42.2% cisgender women, 15.2% transgender/gender diverse individuals; 37.9% racial and ethnic minority individuals) who completed measures of antibisexual discrimination (Brief Antibisexual Experiences Scale), positive bi+ identity (Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Positive Identity Measure), general resilience (Brief Resilience Scale), and suicidal ideation (Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation) at baseline, and suicidal ideation again at 1- and 2-month follow-up. Results: Greater antibisexual discrimination was significantly associated with increases in suicidal ideation at 1-month follow-up at low levels of community, authenticity, and intimacy, and increases in suicidal ideation at 2-month follow-up at low levels of authenticity. In addition, at high levels of authenticity, greater antibisexual discrimination was significantly associated with decreases in suicidal ideation at 1-month follow-up. In contrast, general resilience did not moderate the associations between antibisexual discrimination and suicidal ideation at 1- or 2-month follow-up. Conclusions: Results suggest that promoting positive aspects of bi+ identity (community, authenticity, and intimacy), but not general resilience, may help attenuate the effects of antibisexual discrimination on suicidal ideation over time. What is the public health significance of this article?: The results of the present study suggest that positive aspects of one's bi+ identity, but not general resilience, can buffer the mental health consequences of antibisexual discrimination, pointing to promising intervention targets to reduce suicidal ideation in this population. Promoting positive aspects of bi+ identity (community, authenticity, and intimacy) may help attenuate the effects of antibisexual discrimination on suicidal ideation over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The prevalence of anxiety and depressive (i.e., internalizing) disorders is higher among bi+ individuals (i.e., individuals with attractions to more than one gender and/or who identify as bisexual or pansexual) compared to both heterosexual and lesbian/gay individuals. Cross-sectional research has demonstrated that stressors unique to bi+ individuals are associated with internalizing symptoms. However, longitudinal research examining these associations and underlying mechanisms is extremely limited. Method: We utilized five waves of data (6 months between waves) from a diverse sample of bi+ individuals assigned female at birth (age 16–32; 29% gender minority; 72.9% racial/ethnic minority) to examine: (a) prospective associations between three bi+ stressors (enacted, internalized, anticipated bi+ stigma) and internalizing symptoms; (b) potential mediating role of rumination in these associations; and (c) potential mediating roles of internalized and anticipated bi+ stigma in associations between enacted bi+ stigma and internalizing symptoms. Results: At the within-person level, when participants experienced more bi+ stressors than usual during a particular wave, they experienced subsequent increases in internalizing symptoms. Increases in rumination mediated these associations. Associations between enacted bi+ stigma and internalizing symptoms were mediated by increases in internalized and anticipated bi+ stigma. Conclusions: Findings indicate that bi+ stressors prospectively predict increases in internalizing symptoms and rumination may play a mechanistic role. Further, findings suggest that internalized and anticipated bi+ stigma may play mechanistic roles in the associations between enacted bi+ stigma and internalizing symptoms. Interventions targeting rumination, internalized stigma, and anticipated bi+ stigma may help to reduce internalizing symptoms among bi+ individuals. What is the public health significance of this article?: Results of the present study suggest that the unique stressors experienced by individuals with attractions to more than one gender (i.e., bi+ individuals) contribute to anxiety and depression present in this population. Findings also indicate that repetitively and passively thinking about negative experiences and feelings of distress (i.e., rumination) may be one way in which these stressors contribute to increases in symptoms. Further, findings indicate that experiences of discrimination may also contribute to internalizing symptoms via increases in negative feelings and beliefs about one's sexual orientation and expectations of future experiences of bi+ stigma. Therefore, individual-level clinical interventions for bi+ individuals may reduce the impact of bi+ stressors on internalizing symptoms by addressing rumination as well as internalized and anticipated bi+ stigma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Sexual minority adolescents have previously been found to experience disparities in self-injurious thoughts and behaviors (SITBs) compared to heterosexual adolescents. However, there is a paucity of data on SITBs amongst children. Thus, the aim of the current study is to assess the prevalence of SITBs in a large sample of U.S. children and to test whether rates vary by sexual orientation. Methods: Data were drawn from the 2.0 baseline release of the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study. The full sample included 11,777raw 9–10-year-old children (sexual minority n = 150raw). Children completed a computerized version of the youth Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia (KSADS-5), including items assessing suicide ideation, suicide attempts, and nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI). Unadjusted and adjusted models compared the prevalence of outcomes by sexual orientation. Models also compared the co-occurrence of NSSI and suicide ideation by sexual orientation. Results: Across all outcomes, sexual minority children reported elevated prevalence rates compared to heterosexual children, with odds ratios ranging from 4.4 to 6.5. Among children who reported NSSI, a greater proportion of sexual minority versus heterosexual children reported co-occurring suicide ideation (OR = 3.8). Conclusions: In a large sample of 9–10-year-old U.S. children, sexual orientation disparities emerged across NSSI, suicide ideation, and suicide attempts. Results indicate that sexual minority children are a vulnerable population for SITBs. Inclusion of children in prevention programs is encouraged. Public Health Significance: This study shows that sexual minority children experience significant disparities in SITBs compared to their heterosexual peers. Future suicide prevention efforts targeting sexual minority children could reduce these disparities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: In different-sex couples, individual and partner stress can both have a negative impact on relationship functioning (actor and partner effects). Gay and bisexual men experience unique stress (sexual minority stress), but few studies have examined the effects of this stress on relationship functioning among young male couples. The current study examined (a) actor and partner effects of general and minority stress (internalized stigma, microaggressions, victimization, and outness) on relationship functioning (relationship quality and negative relationship interactions), (b) interactions between individual and partner stress as predictors of relationship functioning, and (c) dyadic coping and relationship length as moderators of actor and partner effects. Method: Actor-partner interdependence models were tested using data from 153 young male couples. Results: There was strong support for actor effects. Higher general stress and internalized stigma were associated with lower relationship quality, but only for those in longer relationships. Additionally, higher general stress, internalized stigma, and microaggressions, and lower outness, were associated with more negative relationship interactions. There was limited support for partner effects. Having a partner with higher internalized stigma was associated with more negative relationship interactions, but none of the other partner effects were significant. There was no support for individual and partner stress interacting to predict relationship functioning or for dyadic coping as a stress buffer. Conclusions: Findings highlight the influence of one's own experiences of general and minority stress on relationship functioning, but raise questions about how partner stress influences relationship functioning among young male couples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Research has demonstrated that gay men are at increased risk for internalizing disorders compared with heterosexual men and that minority stressors are risk factors. However, the mechanisms underlying the associations between minority stressors and internalizing symptoms remain unclear. The current study examined coping strategies (active and disengaged coping) as mediators of the associations between minority stressors (internalized homonegativity [IH] and rejection sensitivity [RS]) and internalizing symptoms. Method: A sample of 147 gay men completed a baseline questionnaire and weekly questionnaires for seven consecutive weeks. Results: At the between-person level, higher IH and RS were associated with higher disengaged coping, but not active coping. In turn, higher disengaged coping was associated with higher internalizing symptoms. Disengaged coping mediated the between-person association between IH and internalizing symptoms. At the within-person level, higher IH and RS were associated with higher disengaged coping, which, in turn, was associated with higher internalizing symptoms. Higher RS was also associated with higher active coping. Disengaged coping mediated the within-person associations between both minority stressors and internalizing symptoms. Of note, some associations with IH became nonsignificant controlling for RS, suggesting that the latter has a stronger influence on coping and internalizing symptoms. Conclusions: Findings demonstrate that gay men's negative thoughts and feelings about their sexual orientation and anxious expectations of rejection vary from week to week and this weekly fluctuation has an impact on mental health. Further, findings implicate disengaged coping as a mechanism through which minority stressors influence internalizing symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The current study used path analysis to examine potential mechanisms through which experiences of discrimination influence depressive and social anxiety symptoms. Method: The sample included 218 lesbians and 249 gay men (total N = 467) who participated in an online survey about minority stress and mental health. The proposed model included 2 potential mediators--internalized homonegativity and rejection sensitivity--as well as a culturally relevant antecedent to experiences of discrimination--childhood gender nonconformity. Results: Results indicated that the data fit the model well, supporting the mediating roles of internalized homonegativity and rejection sensitivity in the associations between experiences of discrimination and symptoms of depression and social anxiety. Results also supported the role of childhood gender nonconformity as an antecedent to experiences of discrimination. Although there were not significant gender differences in the overall model fit, some of the associations within the model were significantly stronger for gay men than lesbians. Conclusions: These findings suggest potential mechanisms through which experiences of discrimination influence well-being among sexual minorities, which has important implications for research and clinical practice with these populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]