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. 2012 Feb;25(1):15-8.
doi: 10.1016/j.jpag.2011.06.011. Epub 2011 Nov 3.

Substance use and mental health disparities among sexual minority girls: results from the Pittsburgh girls study

Michael P Marshal  1 , Gina Sucato, Stephanie D Stepp, Alison Hipwell, Helen A Smith, Mark S Friedman, Tammy Chung, Nina Markovic
Affiliations

Substance use and mental health disparities among sexual minority girls: results from the Pittsburgh girls study

Michael P Marshal et al. J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol. 2012 Feb.

Abstract

Purpose: To examine substance use and mental health disparities between sexual minority girls and heterosexual girls.

Methods: Data from the Pittsburgh Girls Study were analyzed. All girls were 17 years old. Girls were included if they were not missing self-reported sexual orientation and mental health data (N = 527). Thirty-one girls (6%) endorsed same-sex romantic orientation/identity or current same-sex attraction. Bivariate analyses were conducted to test group differences in the prevalence of substance use and suicidal behavior, and group differences in depression, anxiety, borderline personality disorder (BPD), oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), and conduct disorder (CD) symptoms.

Results: Compared with heterosexual girls, sexual minority girls reported higher past-year rates of cigarette, alcohol, and heavy alcohol use, higher rates of suicidal ideation and self-harm, and higher average depression, anxiety, BPD, ODD, and CD symptoms.

Conclusions: Sexual minority girls are an underrepresented group in the health disparities literature, and compared with heterosexual girls, they are at higher risk for mental health problems, most likely because of minority stress experiences such as discrimination and victimization. The disparities found in this report highlight the importance of discussing sexual orientation as part of a comprehensive preventive care visit.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors indicate no conflicts of interest.

References

    1. Marshal MP, Dietz LJ, Friedman MS, et al. Suicidality and depression disparities between sexual minority and heterosexual youth: a meta-analytic review. J Adolesc Health. 2011;49:115–23. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Marshal MP, Friedman MS, Stall R, et al. Sexual orientation and adolescent substance use: A meta-analysis and methodological review. Addiction. 2008;103:546–56. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Austin SB, Ziyadeh NJ, Corliss HL, et al. Sexual orientation in purging and binge eating from early to late adolescence. J Adolesc Health. 2009;45:238–45. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Friedman MS, Marshal MP, Guadamuz TE, et al. A meta-analysis of disparities in childhood sexual abuse, parental physical abuse, and peer victimization among sexual minority and sexual nonminority individuals. Am J Public Health. 2011;101:1481–94. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Solarz AL, editor. Committee on Lesbian Health Research Priorities, Neuroscience and Behavioral Health Program and Health Sciences. Lesbian Health: Current Assessment and Directions for the Future. Washington, DC: National Academy Press; 1999. - PubMed

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