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 جوان بزرگسال LGBT 21 تا 25 ساله، به‌طور مساوی بین لاتین‌تبار و سفیدپوست، در 249 مکان، بار و باشگاه LGBT در منطقهٔ خلیج سان‌فرانسیسکو پیدا شدند.
- فقط حدود 9% (تقریباً 22 نفر) ترنس بودند؛ بیشتر گی یا لزبین بودند (70%).
- پذیرش خانواده با پرسیدن از بزرگسالان برای یادآوری سال‌های نوجوانی‌شان، با 55 پرسش بر پایهٔ مصاحبه‌های خود نویسندگان با 53 نوجوان و خانوادهٔ LGBT، سنجیده شد.
- کسانی که پذیرش بالا را به یاد می‌آوردند حدود نصف نمرات افسردگی کسانی را داشتند که پذیرش پایین را به یاد می‌آوردند، و افکار خودکشی کمتر در شش ماه گذشته (19% در برابر 38%).
- 31% گروه پذیرش بالا تا به حال اقدام به خودکشی کرده بودند، در برابر 57% گروه پذیرش پایین؛ پذیرش پایین با بیش از 3 برابر شانس افکار و اقدام‌های خودکشی مرتبط بود.
- پذیرش خانواده با رفتار جنسی پرخطر مرتبط نبود.
- خانواده‌های لاتین‌تبار، مهاجر، مذهبی و کم‌درآمد به‌طور میانگین کمتر پذیرا ارزیابی شدند.
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.