183. Exploring the Influence of Minority Stress on the Transition From High School to College Among LGBQ Young Adults

Abstract

with current psychological symptomology in a sample of YMSM aged 16-20. Methods: This study was comprised of 449 cases selected from a community-based, longitudinal sample of YMSM (N1⁄4450; aged 16-20) recruited through modified respondent-driven sampling. Participants completed computer-assisted self-interviews assessing retrospective counts of ESE incidents (trichotimized to 0, 1-4, and >5), recalled childhood gender expression (e.g., conforming vs. nonconforming), and current psychological symptom counts (e.g., depression, anxiety, PTSD, impulsivity, suicidality). Bivariate analyses were conducted between the measures of ESE, childhood gender expression, and mental health. Significant bivariate outcomes informed subsequent multivariable logistic regression models predicting the likelihood of psychological symptomology by ESE, and childhood gender expression. Results: Results indicated that ESE and childhood gender expression predict psychological symptoms in YMSM. The majority (53%) of the ethnically-diverse sample was African American (Latino1⁄4 20%, European American1⁄4 18%, Other1⁄4 9%), almost half the entire sample (46%) reported at least one ESE incident, and 25% of the sample reported childhood nonconformity. Compared with those not reporting ESE, YMSM reporting ESE were more likely to endorse psychological symptoms consistent with PTSD (p<.05) and depression (p<.05), impulsivity (p<.05) and a tendency to report suicidality (p<.10) (e.g., ideation, past attempt). With childhood gender expression taken into account, YMSM who recalled childhood gender nonconformity reported a past suicide attempt (p<.05) and tended to report higher ESE than YMSM without childhood gender nonconformity (p1⁄4 .08). Multivariable regression analysis indicated that, among YMSM without ESE, childhood gender nonconformity alone did not significantly predict symptoms related to PTSD, depression, or suicidality. However, YMSM with ESE and childhood gender nonconformity were more likely to report current symptoms of PTSD (OR1⁄42.83, 95% CI1⁄41.39, 5.79), depression (OR1⁄42.82, 95% CI1⁄41.52, 5.23), and suicidal attempts (OR 1⁄4 3.12, 95% CI1⁄41.46, 6.69) than gender-conforming YMSM without ESE. Among the subgroup of YMSM reporting childhood gender conformity, those with ESE were at greater odds of reporting PTSD-related hypervigilance (OR1⁄41.87; 95% CI1⁄41.17, 3.00) than those without ESE. Conclusions: YMSM with childhood gender nonconformity may be disproportionately victimized by CSA and go on to develop psychological symptoms beginning in adolescence. Early intervention addressing these factors may help reduce adolescent HIV risk behavior. Sources of Support: National Institute on Drug Abuse Award Number R01DA025548 (PIs: Garofalo, Mustanski).