Sexual orientation disclosure to classmates among Latinx sexual minority high school and college youth

J Res Adolesc. 2021 Dec;31(4):1235-1245. doi: 10.1111/jora.12664. Epub 2021 Jul 19.

ABSTRACT

This study examined how minority stressors mediate the association between sexual orientation disclosure to classmates and well-being in a sample of 238 Latinx sexual minority youth (SMY; age range: 14-24 years). Results indicated that sexual orientation disclosure to classmates was associated with higher levels of sexual orientation-based victimization, which contributed to higher levels of internalized homonegativity, which ultimately contributed to higher levels of depressive symptoms and lower self-esteem. Sexual orientation-based victimization and internalized homonegativity were positively associated with depressive symptoms and negatively associated with self-esteem but sexual orientation disclosure to classmates was only positively associated with depressive symptoms. Associations between sexual orientation-based victimization and internalized homonegativity were stronger among college Latinx SMY compared to SMY in high school.

PMID:34820952 | DOI:10.1111/jora.12664