ABSTRACT

Despite increasing scholarship on sexual minority youth (SMY), little is known about the experiences and outcomes of those who identify as asexual. This study investigates how internal and external stressors, mental health and health risk behaviours differ between asexual youth and other SMY. The study uses a sub-group analysis (n = 5,314) of an online survey of self-identified sexual and gender minority youth (SGMY). Descriptive and inferential statistics compare asexual (n = 669) to non-asexual (n = 4,645) respondents across two developmental phases – adolescence (age 14–19) and young adulthood (age 20–25) – while accounting for gender minority (e.g., transgender) self-identification. Results indicate that asexual youth had significantly higher internalised LGBTQ-phobia and tended to have poorer mental health (e.g., higher rates of depression), while having experienced less interpersonal discrimination/prejudice and having engaged in fewer health risk behaviours (e.g., substance use). Findings have implications for clinical practice. Future research should continue to investigate the impact of risk and protective factors on outcomes for asexual young people.

摘要

尽管对性少数青年 (SMY) 的研究越来越多，但对那些认定为无性恋者的经历和结果知之甚少。本研究调查了无性恋青少年和其他 SMY 之间的内部和外部压力源、心理健康和健康风险行为有何不同。该研究使用了对自我认同的性和性别少数青年 (SGMY) 的在线调查的亚组分析 ( n = 5,314)。描述性和推理性统计比较无性（n = 669）与非无性（n= 4,645) 受访者跨越两个发展阶段——青春期（14-19 岁）和青年期（20-25 岁）——同时考虑到性别少数（例如，跨性别）的自我认同。结果表明，无性恋青年的内化 LGBTQ 恐惧症显着更高，心理健康状况往往较差（例如，抑郁症发病率较高），同时经历的人际歧视/偏见较少，参与的健康风险行为较少（例如，物质使用） . 研究结果对临床实践有影响。未来的研究应继续调查风险和保护因素对无性恋年轻人结局的影响。