Sexual Orientation Differences Research Articles

Stressors and symptoms explaining sexual orientation inequalities in mental health services usage: A longitudinal study with young adults

Abstract Background Sexual minority (i.e., lesbian, gay, and bisexual [LGB], and other non-heterosexual) individuals are more likely to use mental health services than heterosexuals; however, evidence is scarce about factors contributing to this difference. Methods This study uses longitudinal data from a population-based sample of young adults (aged 18- 36) in Sweden (N = 1,137). We use mediation analysis to examine whether common mental health symptoms (i.e., depressive, anxiety and social anxiety symptoms, suicidality, and alcohol use) mediate sexual orientation differences in mental health services use; and to understand whether adding general stressors (i.e., low social support, loneliness, and perceived stress) to these models increases the total effect explained. Afterwards, we use logistic regression models to understand how minority-specific stressors (e.g., family reaction and dimensions of sexual minority identity) predict mental health service use among sexual minority individuals (N = 498), adjusting for common mental health symptoms. Results Common mental health symptoms only partially mediate the associations and the direct effect for sexual orientation remain significant (β = 0.11, p < 0.01). Adding general stressors to these models only slightly increase the total effect explained and the direct effect remained significant (β = 0.11, p < 0.01). Among sexual minority individuals, after adjusting for common mental health symptoms, a difficult process of coming out (β = 0.12, p < 0.05) and negative family reaction towards one’s sexual orientation (β = 0.15, p < 0.05) predicted use of mental health services. Conclusions Overall, these results show that minority-specific stressors contribute to help-seeking behaviours among sexual minority individuals, regardless of psychiatric morbidity, highlighting the potential role of mental health services empowering sexual minority individuals to cope with minority stress.

Natural menopause timing and menopause symptoms among lesbian, bisexual, and heterosexual women in the Nurses' Health Study II

Abstract Objective This study aimed to examine sexual orientation differences in natural menopause timing and symptoms between lesbian and bisexual women compared with heterosexual women. Methods We used longitudinal questionnaire data (1989-2015) from 92,314 women (858 lesbian, 375 bisexual) in the Nurses' Health Study II cohort. Women were 24-44 yr old at baseline and biennially reported their menopause status, including reasons for cessation of menstrual periods. In 2009 and 2013, women reported on their experience of hot flashes and night sweats. Covariates included age, age at menarche, body mass index, smoking, and parity. Sexual orientation was reported in 1995 and 2009. Results Age-adjusted Cox models and logistic regression models suggest that there were no statistically significant differences in menopause timing between lesbian or bisexual women when compared with heterosexual women. When examining menopause symptoms, lesbian women consistently had a statistically significantly (P < 0.05) higher odds of experiencing hot flashes or night sweats (odds ratio range: 1.17 to 1.72) and moderate/severe symptoms (OR range: 1.26 to 1.77) than heterosexual women, even after adjusting for covariates such as smoking and obesity. There were no statistically significant differences in menopause symptoms between bisexual and heterosexual women. Conclusions Our findings suggest no meaningful difference in menopause timing between sexual minority and heterosexual women. Additionally, menopause symptoms were more likely among lesbian women and warrants additional study.

Expanding experiences and anxieties: gender-identity and sexual-orientation differences in attitudes toward synthetic pornography

ABSTRACT Media-technology innovations have long been animated by demand for sexual content, and generative artificial intelligence (AI) is no exception. Synthetic pornography (SP) (distinct from deepfakes) comprises machine-generated visual media depicting non-actual bodies engaging in sexual activities. SP represents a complex convergence of pornography and AI with their historical challenges and opportunities for people of varied gender identities and sexual orientations. This descriptive study offers a baseline account of attitudes toward SP compared across social groups. Leveraging an online survey and a clear definition of SP, we observed quantitative and qualitative differences in attitudes among people with differing gender identities and sexual orientations. The findings indicate idiosyncratic concerns and hopes that may be interpretable in relation to gendered anxieties; observations indicate that attitudes toward SP may not be stable or well formed at this stage in the technology’s emergence.

The drive for muscularity and disordered eating among heterosexual and sexual minority men in Israel.

In this study, we investigated the moderating effects of self-acceptance and perceived country-level acceptance of gender and sexual orientation on the relationship between the drive for muscularity and disordered eating, particularly among sexual minority and cisgender men. We hypothesized that high levels of acceptance, both individually and within the societal context, would mitigate the pressure to adhere to conventional masculine ideals, consequently lowering the likelihood of engaging in disordered eating behaviors. Seven hundred twenty-three Israeli men aged 18-68 participated in the study. The sample included heterosexual men (67.9%) and sexual minority men (30.1%), with a deliberate oversampling of sexual minority men to explore differences in the suggested model between heterosexual and sexual minority groups. The data were analyzed using hierarchical robust regression, examining interactions between the variables of interest. The results revealed significant associations between the drive for muscularity, disordered eating, and lower self-acceptance of sexual identity. Sexual minority men reported higher levels of disordered eating and drive for muscularity than did heterosexual men, along with lower levels of acceptance of gender and sexual orientation (by the individual and the country). The association between drive for muscularity and disordered eating was moderated by sexual orientation and self-acceptance of gender identity, with a stronger association among men with lower self-acceptance of their gender identity and sexual minority men. The findings underscore the significance of fostering individual and country-level acceptance of gender and sexual orientation differences to promote well-being and mitigate the risk of disordered eating among heterosexual and sexual minority men, particularly the latter. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

The Chain Mediation Effect of Victimization and Neuroticism on the Association Between Sexual Orientation and Depressive Symptoms: A Prospective Birth Cohort Study.

This study tested whether sexual orientation differences in depressive symptoms were partially explained by the chain mediation effect of neuroticism and victimization. Using the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children from the UK (N = 4647, 36.52% men, 88% White), self-reported neuroticism, sexual orientation, and depressive symptoms were measured at age 13.5, 21, and 22years, respectively. Childhood abuse between birth and age 11years and the individuals' experiences of being bullied at age 17.5years were measured as the components of victimization. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data. Non-heterosexual individuals reported higher depressive symptoms than heterosexual individuals, with a total effect (standardized path coefficient) of 0.590 and 0.768 for men and women, respectively. This association was partially explained by childhood abuse (indirect effect = 0.043 and 0.046 for men and women, respectively) and neuroticism directly (indirect effect = 0.036 and 0.056 for men and women, respectively). Sexual orientation differences in depressive symptoms were also partially explained by a path through increased risk of experiencing childhood abuse leading to higher levels of neuroticism (indirect effect = 0.004 and 0.009 for men and women, respectively) and by a path through higher levels of neuroticism leading to increased risk of being bullied (indirect effect = 0.004 and 0.002 for men and women, respectively). The findings suggest that while some of the association between sexual orientation and depression might be explained by neuroticism and experiences of victimization measured prospectively, these factors do not account for most of this relationship.

The effect of sexual orientation on voice acoustic properties.

Previous research has investigated sexual orientation differences in the acoustic properties of individuals' voices, often theorizing that homosexuals of both sexes would have voice properties mirroring those of heterosexuals of the opposite sex. Findings were mixed, but many of these studies have methodological limitations including small sample sizes, use of recited passages instead of natural speech, or grouping bisexual and homosexual participants together for analyses. To address these shortcomings, the present study examined a wide range of acoustic properties in the natural voices of 142 men and 175 women of varying sexual orientations, with sexual orientation treated as a continuous variable throughout. Homosexual men had less breathy voices (as indicated by a lower harmonics-to-noise ratio) and, contrary to our prediction, a lower voice pitch and narrower pitch range than heterosexual men. Homosexual women had lower F4 formant frequency (vocal tract resonance or so-called overtone) in overall vowel production, and rougher voices (measured via jitter and spectral tilt) than heterosexual women. For those sexual orientation differences that were statistically significant, bisexuals were in-between heterosexuals and homosexuals. No sexual orientation differences were found in formants F1-F3, cepstral peak prominence, shimmer, or speech rate in either sex. Recommendations for future "natural voice" investigations are outlined.

Sexual Orientation Differences in Age of First Treatment for a Mental Health Diagnosis: A Population-Based Study of Childhood and Adolescence

The aim of the current study was to identify the age at which sexual orientation disparity in mental health diagnoses can be first identified, as well as gender and sexual identity subgroup differences in such treatment, in a population-based sample. Young people aged 16 to 25 (N= 10,365) participating in the probability-based Swedish National Public Health Survey in 2018 were included. This sample was linked to physician-assessed mental health care treatment history data starting when all participants were 8 years old using national health care registries. Participants reporting a sexual minority identity in adolescence and young adulthood were more than 3 times as likely to have been treated for an internalizing disorder diagnosis (eg, depression, anxiety) and more than twice as likely to have been treated for a neurodevelopmental disorder diagnosis during childhood than participants reporting a heterosexual identity. Sexual minority participants overall and women in particular were more likely to have been treated for an internalizing disorder diagnosis at an early age compared with heterosexual participants, with this disparity starting at age 13. The sexual orientation disparity in likelihood of treatment for a neurodevelopmental disorder diagnosis was particularly elevated among bisexual/pansexual women with this disparity starting in early/middle adolescence. This population-based study linked to physician-assessed mental health diagnoses during childhood and adolescence identifies the age at which sexual orientation differences in treatment for common mental disorders emerge. The early emergence of this disparity suggests a potential benefit of interventions that facilitate social belonging for all youth.

Aging in isolation: Sexual orientation differences in navigating cognitive decline

IntroductionSubjective cognitive decline is a self-reported measure of worsening memory and day-to-day decision making. Cognitive decline may impair an individual's ability to complete instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) such as preparing meals or taking medication, ultimately limiting one's ability to live independently. People with IADL impairments typically rely on informal care from spouses or children. Interpersonal and structural discrimination towards sexual minority (SM, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, and other queer identified) populations may contribute to disparities in cognitive decline and informal care outcomes. ObjectiveEstimate differences in prevalence, severity, and receipt of social support for subjective cognitive decline stratified by sex and SM status. MethodsCross-sectional study design using a probability sample (n = 172,047) from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System 2015–2019. Prevalence estimates and multivariable Poisson regression models were used to compare outcomes by sex and sexual identity. ResultsCompared to heterosexual peers, SM men and women were more likely to experience cognitive decline (15% of SM men, 11% of heterosexual men, 17% of SM women, 11% of heterosexual women). In adjusted models, SM women were 22% more likely (95%CI:3%–44%, p < .05) to report IADL impairments due to cognitive decline but were 17% less likely (95%CI:1%–31%, p < .05) to receive any social support with IADL impairments compared to heterosexual women. In adjusted models, SM men were 25% more likely (95%CI: 0%–56%, p < .05) to report IADL impairments due to cognitive decline but reported no significant difference in receiving social support with IADL impairments compared to heterosexual men. DiscussionWe identified significant unmet need for social supports for IADL impairments, with highest unmet need among SM women. Comprehensive strategies such as LGBTQ + affirming assisted living and home and community-based services are needed to ensure equity in receipt of long-term supports and services for SM populations.

Sex and Sexual Orientation Differences in Dark Triad Traits, Sexual Excitation/Inhibition, and Sociosexuality.

The present study sought to investigate sex and sexual orientation differences in several traits related to sexuality and sexual behavior. Examining sexual orientation differences alongside basic sex differences to help identify correlates of sexual orientation diversity, and whether individuals with varying degrees of same-sex attraction show concurrent sex-atypical shifts in other domains. Males tend to score higher than females in the Dark Triad (DT) traits of sub-clinical narcissism, psychopathy, and Machiavellianism. Similarly, females tend to be more cautious than males in their attitudes and desires toward casual sex activity (i.e., sociosexuality). These sex differences may be related to the propensity for individuals to become easily sexually excited, which is higher in males, or to instead inhibit sexual arousal, which is higher in females. In a large undergraduate sample (N = 2047), we replicated expected sex differences in DT traits, sociosexuality, and sexual excitation/inhibition. We found that non-heterosexual females were "male-shifted" in some of these traits, but these shifts tended to be strongest among mostly heterosexual and bisexual individuals. Furthermore, we found that within-sex variation in sociosexuality, sexual excitation, and sexual inhibition was not related to sexual orientation in a linear fashion. Instead, sociosexuality and sexual excitation were related to sexual orientation in a curvilinear (inverted-U) fashion, especially among females. The fact that traits correlated with bisexuality and homosexuality were somewhat distinct is consistent with the idea that different developmental pathways may lead to these discrete sexual attraction patterns.

Pengelolaan Keragaman Sumber Daya Manusia dalam Organisasi

Management of human resource (HR) diversity in organizations. HR diversity includes differences in race, ethnicity, gender, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation and cultural background. There are several challenges faced by organizations in managing HR diversity, including potential conflicts between employees, bias and discrimination, as well as difficulties in building cohesive teams. However, diversity also brings various opportunities, such as increased creativity and innovation, market expansion, and the ability to attract the best talent from various backgrounds. To maximize the benefits of HR diversity, organizations need to implement inclusive management strategies, such as diversity awareness training, anti-discrimination policies, and mentoring programs. In conclusion, effective HR diversity management not only helps organizations create a harmonious and productive work environment, but also provides a competitive advantage in an increasingly global and dynamic market.

Does the Paraphilia Scale Work for Everyone? Confirmatory Factor Analysis and Measurement Invariance Across Gender and Sexual Orientation Groups

ABSTRACT We conducted three studies to examine the factor structure and measurement invariance of the Paraphilia Scale, a measure of paraphilic interests used in multiple studies. In the first study, we conducted a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) testing different a priori models with a community sample of 1,040 adults previously reported by Seto et al. (2021), and found support for a hierarchical four-factor model: An agonistic continuum involving coercion or physical pain (biastophilia, sexual sadism, masochism), chronophilias (pedophilia, hebephilia), courtship disorders (voyeurism, exhibitionism, and frotteurism), and fetishism (object fetishism, transvestic fetishism, urophilia-coprophilia). This factor structure was replicated in a second study comprising a combined sample of 400 mTurk participants and 870 university students. The third study analyzed the community sample and found evidence of configural invariance but not scalar or metric invariance across gender (man or woman) and sexual orientation for gender (heterosexual or other sexual orientation). This indicates that the factor structure of the Paraphilia Scale is robust for gender and sexual orientation for gender, but factor loadings differ across these groups, as do the loadings of individual items on the four factors. Implications for research on gender and sexual orientation differences in paraphilic interests are discussed.

Differences in shared decision-making and prostate cancer screening by sexual orientation and race/ethnicity.

10525 Background: There are well-documented disparities among racial and sexual minorities in prostate cancer screening uptake and shared-decision making (SDM) conversations. However, it is unclear how racial/ethnic identity and sexual orientation interact to affect prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing uptake. Methods: Data came from the 2018-2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey (BRFSS). Outcomes were survey responses to questions about engagement in SDM and PSA testing uptake. The sample included 88,365 heterosexual (HS) men and 2,562 sexual minority (SM) men ages 55 to 69. Data were stratified by race/ethnicity and survey-weighted logistic regression models analyzed the association between sexual orientation and outcomes. Models controlled for age, relationship status, education, household income, insurance status, having a usual source of care, and region. Results: White SM men were more likely to have discussed disadvantages of PSA testing with their healthcare provider [odds ratio (OR)=1.407; p&lt;0.001] and to have undergone PSA testing [OR=1.320; p&lt;0.001] compared to White HS men. Asian SM men were more likely to have had discussions about PSA testing [OR=4.470; p&lt;0.05]; to have discussed advantages [OR=4.596; p&lt;0.05]; to have been recommended PSA testing [OR=4.836; p&lt;0.05] and to have undergone PSA testing [OR=4.401; p&lt;0.001] compared to Asian HS men. Black SM men were more likely to undergo screening because of an issue or a reason besides routine screening [OR=1.073, p&lt;0.05] compared with Black HS men. Hispanic SM men were more likely to have undergone screening as part of a routine checkup [OR=4.2, p&lt;0.001] compared with Hispanic HS men. There were no sexual orientation differences in PSA screening or SDM among American Indian or Native Alaskans. Conclusions: Differences in PSA testing uptake and SDM by sexual orientation vary by race/ethnicity. Further research is needed to study the factors affecting PSA testing uptake and SDM among sexual minority men of different racial/ethnic groups. [Table: see text]

Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Data Collection in Cancer Care: A Nationwide Landscape Assessment Update.

Routine collection of sexual orientation (SO) and gender identity (GI; collectively SOGI) in cancer clinics advances cancer care equity. In 2022, NCI Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP) practice groups were asked about routine collection of SOGI data in the electronic health record. The proportions of practice groups reporting collection of SO and/or GI data were calculated, and practice group characteristics were assessed for associations. Of 271 practice groups nationwide, 42% (n = 112) collect SO data, 58% (n = 157) collect GI data, and 35% (n = 96) collect both. In multivariate analyses, SO data collection was associated with practice groups having minority outreach staff (odds ratio [OR], 2.07 [95% CI, 1.12 to 3.81]; P = .02); GI data collection was associated with practice groups located in the Northeastern United States (OR, 2.08 [95% CI, 0.73 to 5.91]; P = .045), and those with a higher proportion of new patients who were White (OR, 1.02 [95% CI, 1.01 to 1.04]; P < .001). Practice groups in the South were least likely to collect SOGI data (OR, 0.49 [95% CI, 0.26 to 0.94]; P = .004). There were no statistically significant differences in SO and/or GI collection on the basis of the practice group's proportion of Medicaid/Medicare patients, number of new patients with cancer per year, or practice ownership. Slightly over one third of NCORP practice groups report routinely collecting SOGI data. There are regional differences in data collection, underscoring the need to craft targeted, region-specific interventions focused on boosting the capture and recording of SOGI data in an affirming manner.

Assessments for multi-heritage couple therapy: A review of existing tools.

As diversity in the United States increases, marriage and family therapists are encountering more multi-heritage couples in therapy. Recent research shows that around 11% of adults are married to someone from a different racial or ethnic group, rising to 19% among new marriages. Multi-heritage couples encompass inherent differences in race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, and culture. This article addresses the unique challenges faced by multi-heritage couples in therapy and explores the strengths and weaknesses of existing assessment tools suitable for their needs. The study highlights a limited number of existing tools that are available for therapists working with multi-heritage couples. Consequently, the article suggests future directions to enhance the development of assessment tools tailored to the specific needs of multi-heritage couples.

Digital activism about gay fatherhood on Instagram: male homoparenting in the picture.

In contemporary Brazil, the number of male fathers taking care of their sons and daughters and the initiatives to produce content about fatherhood on Instagram have been significant. This article aims to analyze the concepts that support the digital activism of homoparenting on Instagram, based on gender studies with men. To this end, a qualitative study was conducted using the life narrative method in a digital environment. The results were analyzed and divided into the following sections: parenting project, personal experience of fatherhood, articulation with LGBT political agenda when parenthood becomes a "business", and haters, criticism, and adverse reactions. It was concluded that the reflection on the experience of fatherhood/masculinity itself is crossed by the social marker of the difference in sexual orientation and the activism for rights that sustain content production. Thus, the uniqueness of each fatherhood is highlighted since the fact of being gay constructs the fatherhood experience for each man. Despite the initiatives brought forth in this study, changes are still in progress, as rights activism coexists with the advancement of conservative forces, which limit the expressions of sexual and gender otherness.

Childhood Gender Nonconformity and Parental Maltreatment as Mediators of Sexual Orientation Disparities in Childhood Emotional and Behavioral Difficulties.

The mechanisms underlying sexual orientation differences in psychopathology originating in childhood remain understudied since sexual orientation does not directly manifest in childhood. This study tested whether childhood gender nonconformity and parental maltreatment before age 6years 9months partly explained sexual orientation disparities in the developmental trajectories of emotional and behavioral difficulties from age 6years 9months to 11years 8months. The Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children was used (2182 boys and 2422 girls, Mage = 15.5, 90% White). After controlling for early life factors, non-heterosexual boys and girls displayed significantly greater emotional and behavioral difficulties than their heterosexual counterparts at all three ages. There was a sex difference in the mediating effects. For girls, sexual orientation disparities in childhood emotional and behavioral difficulties were partially explained by childhood gender nonconformity. For boys, sexual orientation disparities in childhood emotional and behavioral difficulties were partially explained by a path through greater childhood gender nonconformity, leading to increased risk of being the targets of parental maltreatment. Childhood gender nonconformity, parental maltreatment, and other early life factors only partially explain sexual orientation disparities in childhood emotional and behavioral difficulties. The mediating effects of childhood gender nonconformity and parental maltreatment on the association between sexual orientation and childhood emotional and behavioral difficulties differ between the sexes.

Gender and Sexual Orientation Differences in Sexual Violence Knowledge, Prevention Behaviors, and Care-Seeking Behaviors.

Sexual violence (SV) on college campuses disproportionately affects cisgender (nontransgender) women, sexual minorities (e.g., gays/lesbians, bisexuals), and gender minority (e.g., transgender/nonbinary) people. This study investigates gender and sexual behavior differences in common SV intervention targets-SV-related knowledge, prevention behaviors, and care-seeking. We analyzed cross-sectional survey data, collected in 9/2015-3/2017, from 2202 students aged 18-24 years attending college health and counseling centers at 28 Pennsylvania and West Virginia campuses. Multivariable multilevel models tested gender and sexual behavior differences in SV history; recognition of SV; prevention behaviors (self-efficacy to obtain sexual consent, intentions to intervene, positive bystander behaviors); and care-seeking behaviors (knowledge of, self-efficacy to use, and actual use of SV services). Adjusting for lifetime exposure to SV, compared with cisgender men, cisgender women had higher recognition of SV and reproductive coercion, prevention behaviors, and care-seeking self-efficacy (beta range 0.19-1.36) and gender minority people had higher recognition of SV and intentions to intervene (beta range 0.33-0.61). Cisgender men with any same-gender sexual partners had higher SV knowledge (beta = 0.23) and self-efficacy to use SV services (beta = 0.52) than cisgender men with only opposite-gender partners. SV history did not explain these differences. Populations most vulnerable to SV generally have higher SV knowledge, prevention behaviors, and care-seeking behaviors than cisgender men with only opposite-gender sexual partners. Innovative SV intervention approaches are necessary to increase SV-related knowledge among heterosexual cisgender men and may need to target alternative mechanisms to effectively reduce inequities for sexual and gender minority people.

Genetic and Environmental Influences on Sexual Orientation: Moderation by Childhood Gender Nonconformity and Early-Life Adversity

Existing evidence indicates genetic and non-genetic influences on sexual orientation; however, the possibility of gene-environment interplay has not been previously formally tested despite theories indicating this. Using a Finnish twin cohort, this study investigated whether childhood gender nonconformity and early-life adversities independently moderated individual differences in sexual orientation and childhood gender nonconformity, the relationship between them, and the etiological bases of the proposed moderation effects. Sexual orientation, childhood gender nonconformity, and early-life adversities were assessed using standard questionnaires. Structural equation twin model fitting was carried out using OpenMx. Childhood gender nonconformity was significantly associated with reduced phenotypic variance in sexual orientation (β = − 0.14, 95% CI − 0.27, − 0.01). A breakdown of the underlying influences of this moderation effect showed that this was mostly due to moderation of individual-specific environmental influences which significantly decreased as childhood gender nonconformity increased (βE = − 0.38; 95% CI − 0.52, − 0.001) while additive genetic influences were not significantly moderated (βA = 0.05; 95% CI − 0.30, 0.27). We also observed that the relationship between sexual orientation and childhood gender nonconformity was stronger at higher levels of childhood gender nonconformity (β = 0.10, 95% CI 0.05, 0.14); however, significance of the underlying genetic and environmental influences on this relationship could not be established in this sample. The findings indicate that beyond a correlation of their genetic and individual-specific environmental influences, childhood gender nonconformity is further significantly associated with reduced individual-specific influences on sexual orientation.

Associations of sexual identity change and identity-attraction discordance with symptomatic alcohol and other drug use.

National studies examining alcohol and other drug use by sexual orientation have been primarily cross-sectional. Understanding changes in sexual orientation over time may further elucidate the mechanisms behind sexual orientation differences in alcohol and other drug use. This national longitudinal study examines changes in sexual orientation across four waves (2013-2019), and the associations with symptomatic alcohol and other drug use. Data from Waves 1 through 5 of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) study were used to examine associations of sexual identity change/stability and sexual identity-attraction discordance/concordance from baseline to follow-up with symptomatic substance use at follow-up. We examined four outcomes: any symptomatic substance use, symptomatic alcohol use, symptomatic other drug use, and symptomatic alcohol + other drug use. Mixed effects logistic regression models were used and all analyses were weighted and stratified by sex. In models adjusting for potential confounders, greater likelihood of symptomatic alcohol and other drug use outcomes was found among males and females experiencing a change from a heterosexual to sexual minority identity and among females with new or consistent sexual identity-attraction discordance. These findings highlight important sex differences and suggest that the period of transitioning to a sexual minority identity is a particularly vulnerable period for symptomatic alcohol and other drug use. For females, incongruent sexual identity and attraction is also a risk factor. Interventions that assist individuals during this transitional period and during a time when identity and attraction are incongruent, may reduce symptomatic substance use during this period.

Emotion regulation and OCD among sexual minority people: Identifying treatment targets

Sexual minority individuals experience higher rates of psychopathology, such that sexual minority people are nine times more likely to receive a diagnosis or treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) compared to heterosexual people. Poor emotion regulation capacity is a risk factor for OCD, but little is known about sexual orientation differences in dimensions of emotion regulation and how dimensions of emotion regulation relate to OCD severity among sexual minority people. The aims of the current study include 1) comparing sexual minority to heterosexual people on OCD severity and emotion regulation capacity upon admission to treatment for OCD, and 2) examining emotion regulation in relation to OCD severity among sexual minority people. Participants (N = 470) were adults in partial hospital/residential treatment with an average stay of 59.7 days (SD = 25.3), including 22 % sexual minority people. Sexual minority people reported a lower emotion regulation capacity. Among the largest three subgroups (heterosexual, bi+, and gay/lesbian), bi+ individuals reported a lower emotion regulation capacity compared to heterosexual but not gay/lesbian people. Results suggest there are sexual orientation differences in emotion regulation capacity, and that bi+ people have the most difficulty with ER. There is a need for OCD treatment to directly target emotion regulation strategies and be affirming of sexual minority identities.