Citation

Toomey RB, Huynh VW, Jones SK, Lee S, Revels-Macalinao M. J. Gay Lesbian Ment. Health 2017; 21(1): 3-31.

Affiliation

Department of Child and Adolescent Development, California State University-Northridge, Northridge, California, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/19359705.2016.1217499

PMID

28367257

PMCID

PMC5370177

Abstract

This study analyzed the content of 125 unique reports published since 1990 that have examined the health and well-being-as well as the interpersonal and contextual experiences-of sexual minority youth of color (SMYoC). One-half of reports sampled only young men, 73% were noncomparative samples of sexual minority youth, and 68% of samples included multiple racial-ethnic groups (i.e., 32% of samples were mono-racial/ethnic). Most reports focused on health-related outcomes (i.e., sexual and mental health, substance use), while substantially fewer attended to normative developmental processes (i.e., identity development) or contextual and interpersonal relationships (i.e., family, school, community, or violence). Few reports intentionally examined how intersecting oppressions and privileges related to sexual orientation and race-ethnicity contributed to outcomes of interest.

FINDINGS suggest that research with SMYoC has been framed by a lingering deficit perspective, rather than emphasizing normative developmental processes or cultural strengths. The findings highlight areas for future research focused on minority stress, coping, and resilience of SMYoC.

Language: en

Keywords

Health; qualitative methods; racial-ethnic identity; sexual orientation; social inequality