Summary

This Family Acceptance Project study surveyed 245 LGBT young adults in California, asking them to recall how accepting their parents had been of their sexuality and gender expression when they were teenagers. Those who remembered more accepting parents reported better self-esteem, support and general health, and less depression, drug and alcohol problems and suicidal thinking and attempts. For example, 31% of the high-acceptance group had ever attempted suicide versus 57% of the low-acceptance group. The authors concluded that family acceptance protects LGBT youth and called for family programs. But the survey was done once and relies on adults' memories, so it cannot show that acceptance caused better health. Only about 22 people were trans, too few to say much about accepting a trans identity.

Key findings

• 245 LGBT junge Erwachsene im Alter von 21 bis 25, gleichmäßig auf Latino und weiß verteilt, wurden an 249 LGBT-Orten, Bars und Clubs in der Region der San Francisco Bay Area gefunden.
• Nur etwa 9 % (grob 22 Personen) identifizierten sich als trans; die meisten waren schwul oder lesbisch (70 %).
• Familienakzeptanz wurde gemessen, indem Erwachsene gebeten wurden, sich an ihre Teenagerjahre zu erinnern, anhand von 55 Fragen, die auf den eigenen Interviews der Autoren mit 53 LGBT-Jugendlichen und Familien beruhten.
• Wer sich an hohe Akzeptanz erinnerte, hatte etwa halb so hohe Depressionswerte wie wer sich an niedrige Akzeptanz erinnerte, und weniger Suizidgedanken in den letzten sechs Monaten (19 % gegenüber 38 %).
• 31 % der Gruppe mit hoher Akzeptanz hatten je einen Suizidversuch unternommen, gegenüber 57 % der Gruppe mit niedriger Akzeptanz; niedrige Akzeptanz hing mit mehr als dreifachen Chancen auf Suizidgedanken und -versuche zusammen.
• Familienakzeptanz hing nicht mit riskantem Sexualverhalten zusammen.
• Latino-, Einwanderer-, religiöse und einkommensschwächere Familien wurden im Durchschnitt als weniger akzeptierend eingestuft.

Abstract

ISSUE: The role of family acceptance as a protective factor for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) adolescents and young adults has not been established. METHODS: A quantitative measure with items derived from prior qualitative work retrospectively assessed family accepting behaviors in response to LGBT adolescents' sexual orientation and gender expression and their relationship to mental health, substance abuse, and sexual risk in young adults (N= 245). FINDINGS: Family acceptance predicts greater self-esteem, social support, and general health status; it also protects against depression, substance abuse, and suicidal ideation and behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: Family acceptance of LGBT adolescents is associated with positive young adult mental and physical health. Interventions that promote parental and caregiver acceptance of LGBT adolescents are needed to reduce health disparities.

Conclusion

Family acceptance of LGBT adolescents is associated with positive young adult mental and physical health. Interventions that promote parental and caregiver acceptance of LGBT adolescents are needed to reduce health disparities. The authors describe the protective influence of specific family accepting behaviours as 'lasting' and 'dramatically protective', and recommend that nurses assess family reactions, educate parents and promote supportive behaviours such as supporting a child's gender expression.