@article{ref1,
title="Emotional distress among LGBT youth: the influence of perceived discrimination based on sexual orientation",
journal="Journal of youth and adolescence",
year="2009",
author="Almeida, Joanna and Johnson, Renee M. and Corliss, Heather L. and Molnar, Beth E. and Azrael, Deborah R.",
volume="38",
number="7",
pages="1001-1014",
abstract="The authors evaluated emotional distress among 9th-12th grade students, and examined whether the association between being lesbian, gay, bisexual, and/or transgendered (i.e., &quot;LGBT&quot;) and emotional distress was mediated by perceptions of having been treated badly or discriminated against because others thought they were gay or lesbian. Data come from a school-based survey in Boston, Massachusetts (n = 1,032); 10% were LGBT, 58% were female, and ages ranged from 13 to 19 years. About 45% were Black, 31% were Hispanic, and 14% were White. LGBT youth scored significantly higher on the scale of depressive symptomatology. They were also more likely than heterosexual, non-transgendered youth to report suicidal ideation (30% vs. 6%, p < 0.0001) and self-harm (21% vs. 6%, p < 0.0001). Mediation analyses showed that perceived discrimination accounted for increased depressive symptomatology among LGBT males and females, and accounted for an elevated risk of self-harm and suicidal ideation among LGBT males. Perceived discrimination is a likely contributor to emotional distress among LGBT youth.<p /><p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0047-2891",
doi="10.1007/s10964-009-9397-9",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10964-009-9397-9"
}