Abstract

Sexual minorities report poorer mental health relative to heterosexual counterparts, but this is underexplored in Latinx youth. This study compares internalizing symptoms and externalizing behaviors in Latinx adolescents with Same Sex Behaviors (LASSB) to their Latinx adolescent peers who did not report same sex behaviors (non-LASSB). It also explores the moderating role of biculturalism on the relationship between internalizing symptoms and externalizing behaviors, and same-sex behaviors. Individual-level baseline data (Total N = 1,634; LASSB n = 195) from five trials of a preventive intervention for Latinx adolescents were synthesized. Normal and clinical levels of internalizing symptoms and externalizing behaviors were determined, and logistic regression models were conducted to determine the odds of LASSB reporting these behaviors relative to non-LASSB. Additional adjusted models tested for the moderating effect of biculturalism. LASSB reported significantly higher odds of normal levels of all externalizing behaviors and clinical levels of anxious/depressed compared to non-LASSB. Biculturalism significantly moderated the association between same-sex behavior and clinical levels of internalizing behaviors; however, in subgroup analyses among LASSB, biculturalism did not significantly predict any of these behaviors. Latinx adolescents exhibited mental health disparities by same-sex behavior. Biculturalism may be an important indicator for describing these disparities in LASSB and should be further explored.

摘要

与异性恋者相比，性少数群体的心理健康状况较差，但这在拉丁裔青年中尚未得到充分探索。本研究将具有同性行为 (LASSB) 的拉丁裔青少年的内化症状和外化行为与没有报告同性行为的拉丁裔青少年同龄人 (非 LASSB) 进行比较。它还探讨了双文化主义对内化症状和外化行为与同性行为之间关系的调节作用。综合了五项拉丁裔青少年预防干预试验的个人水平基线数据（总 N = 1,634；LASSB n = 195）。确定内化症状和外化行为的正常和临床水平，和逻辑回归模型被用来确定 LASSB 相对于非 LASSB 报告这些行为的几率。额外的调整模型测试了双文化主义的调节作用。与非 LASSB 相比，LASSB 报告的所有外化行为正常水平和焦虑/抑郁临床水平的几率显着更高。双文化主义显着调节了同性行为与临床内化行为水平之间的关联；然而，在 LASSB 的亚组分析中，双文化主义并未显着预测任何这些行为。拉丁裔青少年因同性行为表现出心理健康差异。双文化主义可能是描述 LASSB 中这些差异的重要指标，应进一步探讨。额外的调整模型测试了双文化主义的调节作用。与非 LASSB 相比，LASSB 报告的所有外化行为正常水平和焦虑/抑郁临床水平的几率显着更高。双文化主义显着调节了同性行为与临床内化行为水平之间的关联；然而，在 LASSB 的亚组分析中，双文化主义并未显着预测任何这些行为。拉丁裔青少年因同性行为表现出心理健康差异。双文化主义可能是描述 LASSB 中这些差异的重要指标，应进一步探讨。额外的调整模型测试了双文化主义的调节作用。与非 LASSB 相比，LASSB 报告的所有外化行为正常水平和焦虑/抑郁临床水平的几率显着更高。双文化主义显着调节了同性行为与临床内化行为水平之间的关联；然而，在 LASSB 的亚组分析中，双文化主义并未显着预测任何这些行为。拉丁裔青少年因同性行为表现出心理健康差异。双文化主义可能是描述 LASSB 中这些差异的重要指标，应进一步探讨。双文化主义显着调节了同性行为与临床内化行为水平之间的关联；然而，在 LASSB 的亚组分析中，双文化主义并未显着预测任何这些行为。拉丁裔青少年因同性行为表现出心理健康差异。双文化主义可能是描述 LASSB 中这些差异的重要指标，应进一步探讨。双文化主义显着调节了同性行为与临床内化行为水平之间的关联；然而，在 LASSB 的亚组分析中，双文化主义并未显着预测任何这些行为。拉丁裔青少年因同性行为表现出心理健康差异。双文化主义可能是描述 LASSB 中这些差异的重要指标，应进一步探讨。