1 - (SYM 93) a Longitudinal Test of the Relative and Interactive Effects of Minority Stress and Sexual Victimization on Mental Health Among Sexual Minority Adolescents

Background. Sexual minority adolescents (SMA) are at increased risk for adverse mental health outcomes (e.g., posttraumatic stress, suicide ideation and attempt) compared to heterosexual adolescents. While prior studies have implicated minority stress (e.g., discrimination) in the mental health of SMA, they are also at increased risk for sexual victimization, which can further contribute to adverse mental health outcomes. Therefore, the goal of the current study was to examine the relative and interactive effects of minority stress and sexual victimization on changes in mental health over six-months among SMA. Method. SMA (n = 2,558) participated as part of a larger longitudinal study assessing the mental health of SMA. The sample of SMA ages 14–17 (65% cisgender girls, 61% non-Latinx White) completed online surveys at baseline and six-month follow-up. Surveys included measures of minority stress, sexual victimization, posttraumatic stress, suicide ideation and attempt. Results. Bivariate correlations indicated significant positive associations between minority stress and sexual victimization at baseline and each mental health outcome at baseline and six-month follow-up. When minority stress and sexual victimization at baseline were included as simultaneous predictors of each mental health outcome at six-month follow-up (controlling for each mental health outcome at baseline), minority stress was significantly associated with posttraumatic stress and suicide ideation. In contrast, sexual victimization and the interaction between minority stress and sexual victimization were not significantly associated with any of the mental health outcomes. Conclusion. These findings provide longitudinal support for the role of minority stress in the mental health of SMA, highlighting the need for interventions that target minority stress to improve mental health. Given that sexual victimization was no longer related to mental health after accounting for minority stress, additional research is needed to better understand the relative influences of minority stress and sexual victimization in the mental health of SMA.