Parent-Adolescent Communication and Mental Health in Sexual Minority Adults who Grew up in High-Risk Communities.

• In Event: Poster Session 10
  In Poster Session: PS 10 Topic - Sex, Gender

Abstract

Mental health concerns such as anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation have been reported more often in sexual minority individuals compared to their heterosexual peers in adolescence and adulthood (Diamond et al., 2012; Wigderson et al., 2019; Rosario et al., 2014; Luk et al., 2018). Supportive parent-child relationships, however, have been shown to buffer negative mental health outcomes in sexual minority individuals (Luk et al., 2018; Wigderson et al., 2019). Additionally, contextual considerations such as neighborhoods, religion, race and gender have also been examined to provide further insight for mental health risk factors in sexual minority samples. For example, urban neighborhoods have been associated with better mental health outcomes for sexual minority individuals compared to rural neighborhoods (Giano et al., 2020). Religiosity has been identified as a protective factor for sexual minority youth (Drabble et al., 2016). Lastly, individuals with multiple minority statuses (e.g. minority race and gender) have reported worse mental health experiences than sexual minority individuals that are not also racial or gender minorities (Calabrese et al., 2014; Hsieh & Ruther, 2016).

The proposed study will expand on previous literature and use parent-adolescent communication as a predictor variable for adult mental health in sexual minority individuals who grew up in high-risk communities. Individuals included in the current analysis are from the control and normative samples of the Fast Track Intervention Project (CPPRG, 1992). The sample is a small subgroup of Fast Track participants (<40) who did not receive an intervention and identified as a sexual minority in adulthood. The four-site and longitudinal design of the Fast Track project have made it ideal for the current analysis. Two linear regressions will be conducted using parent and adolescent reports of parent-adolescent communication as separate predictors of mental health outcomes in adulthood. Parent-adolescent communication levels were obtained using the Parent-Child Communication Scale (both Child and Caregiver version) (Loeber et al., 1995; 1998). Reports of mental health in adulthood were collected using the Young Adult Self-Report (Achenbach, 1990; 1997).

Additional exploratory moderator analyses will investigate specific contextual factors that may moderate the relation between parent-adolescent communication and adult mental health in this sample. Contextual factors that will be explored as moderators include religiosity (degree of), gender (binary), race (Black, White), and geographic location (4 sites). Contextual factors that are found to be meaningful moderators will further guide thematic qualitative analysis from parent-adolescent interviews between contextual groups (e.g. urban vs. rural families; men vs women) using interviews designed for the Fast Track project (CPPRG, 1992). During these interviews parents described the quality of their parent-adolescent communications and adolescents answered questions about influential adult role models.

Data collection has been completed, but analyses related to this research question have been delayed due to COVID-19. Analyses will be completed by January 15, 2021.

Results from this study will provide insight on influence of parent-adolescent communication and adult mental health for sexual minority individuals. Exploratory moderator analyses will provide suggestions for research on specific contextual factors’ relations with sexual minority mental health.

Authors

• Danielle Marie DeMaio, Boston Children's Hospital
  Presenting Author

• Ellen E. Pinderhughes, Tufts University
  Non-Presenting Author