Strategies Employed by Sexual Minority Adolescents to Cope with Minority Stress

Sexual minority adolescents (SMA) experience disparities in health and behavioral health outcomes, including high rates of depression, anxiety, self-harm, substance use, HIV risk behavior, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts. These outcomes are commonly attributed to minority stress. Stress experiences are different for SMA than their adult counterparts. For example, disclosing their sexual orientation may be more likely to result in homelessness because these youth more often live with parents or other family members. 

Although stress in this population has been explored in previous research, very little is known about how SMA cope. Relying upon an adolescent coping model, this study examined the coping strategies, responses, and resources of SMA related to stress. Forty-eight racially and ethnically diverse SMA (age 14-19) were recruited for 90-minute tape-recorded interviews. 

The semi-structured interviews were guided by a life history calendar. Recordings were transcribed verbatim and entered into QSR NVivo. All transcripts were coded by two members of the research team and went through a consensus process. Forty-three unique coping statements emerged that fit with the Compas model of adolescent coping. SMA cope with minority stress in similar ways to heterosexual youth coping with general stress, but findings suggest that SMA may also use different kinds of coping resources. 

Although further research is needed, the present study identified a variety of ways SMA cope with stress and can inform future research on the development interventions.

Table 2

Coping Strategies, Responses, and Resources Described by Participants

	n	%
Voluntary
Engagement
Spending time with LGBTQ community	32	66.7
Cognitive self-talk (e.g. “It will get better”)	19	39.6
Learning new knowledge about sexual orientation	18	37.5
Using religious beliefs to accept LGBTQ people and self	14	29.2
Using online resources to connect with other LGBTQ people or information	12	25.0
Participating in Gay-Straight Alliance	12	25.0
Learning new knowledge about gender identity	12	25.0
Asking others to use different gender language (e.g., pronouns)	8	16.7
Identifying with a race community that feels accepting	6	12.5
Participating in an accepting religious community	6	12.5
Beginning gender transition (e.g., therapy, physical, hormonal)	4	8.3
Going to LGBTQ pride events	3	6.3
Talking with a supportive friend or adult	2	4.2
Talking with parent or other family member about crushes or relationships	2	4.2
Watching LGBTQ films, television shows, or online series	2	4.2
Disengagement
Not coming out to family	20	41.7
Leaving a religion of origin due to negative LGBTQ messages	14	29.2
Changing social environment to avoid stressful situations	12	25.0
Denying same-sex attraction to self	11	22.9
Fighting with peers	10	20.8
Isolating self and not talking to people at school	10	20.8
Not disclosing sexual orientation or gender identity	9	18.8
Trying not to think about same-sex attraction	7	14.6
Engaging in avoidance activities (e.g., writing, reading, listening to music)	7	14.6
Involuntary
Engagement
Using religious values or beliefs to build confidence	9	18.8
Feeling proud to be LGBTQ	2	4.2
Disengagement
Numbing or convincing self to be apathetic	25	52.1
Coping resources
Supportive friend	40	83.3
Supportive parent or other immediate family member	38	79.2
LGBTQ friends or school peers	33	68.8
Accepting and diverse LGBTQ community	31	64.6
Other LGBTQ family member	14	29.2
Supportive adult at school	13	27.1
LGBTQ family members treated well in family	10	20.8
Family passively shares LGBTQ information (e.g., watching LGBTQ movie)	8	16.7
Parents supportive of gender expression	7	14.6
Family actively shares LGBTQ information (e.g., discussing LGBTQ issues)	7	14.6
LGBTQ adult or role model at school	7	14.6
Parent apologizes or takes responsibility for heteronormativity	6	12.5
LGBTQ individuals treated well in family (e.g., family friend)	4	8.3
Parent supportive relative to bullying at school	4	8.3
LGBTQ presence in community (e.g., rainbow flag)	3	6.3
LGBTQ others of the same race and ethnicity	2	4.2

Note. LGBTQ = lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer.

Full article at:  http://goo.gl/WrG1dZ

By:  Goldbach JT, Gibbs JJ.

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