Sexual Orientation, Runaway and Throwaway Experiences, and Health during the Transition to Adulthood

• In Event: 434 - Section on Children and Youth Roundtable Session (one-hour).
  In Refereed Roundtable: Table 07. Transitions to Adulthood

Abstract

Previous research suggests that sexual minority youth and adults demonstrate poorer mental health and are more likely to engage in health risk behaviors as a result of the stigma and discrimination associated with same-sex sexuality. Sexual minority adolescents are also more likely to run away from home or experience homelessness, leaving them at increased risk of victimization and negative health outcomes. In this study, we use four waves of data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health) to explore the links between sexual orientation, runaway/throwaway experiences, gender, and health during the transition to adulthood. We also consider whether educational attainment and relationships with parents in adulthood mediate the impact of sexual orientation and runaway experiences on health. Findings suggest that for women, experiencing same-sex sexuality, especially in adulthood has a negative impact on adult health outcomes. For men, experiencing same-sex sexuality only in adolescence has a unique and persistent negative impact on physical health and health risk behaviors, while the experience of same-sex sexuality in adulthood is linked to adult mental health. For both men and women, runaway experiences have persistent negative impacts on health into adulthood. While runaway experiences mediate little of the impact of sexual orientation on adult health outcomes, parental support and educational attainment explain in part why both sexual orientation and runaway experiences impact adult health, especially for women. Future analyses will employ path models to clarify how sexual orientation, runaway/throwaway experiences, and parental support and educational attainment impact health in young adulthood.

Authors

• Jennifer Pearson, Wichita State University

• Lindsey Wilkinson, Portland State University

• Lisa E. Thrane, Wichita State University