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

• 21~25세 LGBT 청년 245명(라틴계와 백인이 반반)이 샌프란시스코 베이 지역의 LGBT 장소, 술집, 클럽 249곳에서 모집되었습니다.
• 트랜스로 정체화한 사람은 약 9%(대략 22명)뿐이었고 대부분은 게이 또는 레즈비언(70%)이었습니다.
• 가족 수용은 LGBT 10대와 가족 53팀에 대한 저자들 자신의 인터뷰에 기반한 55문항으로, 성인에게 10대 시절을 회상하게 하여 측정했습니다.
• 높은 수용을 회상한 사람은 낮은 수용을 회상한 사람의 약 절반의 우울 점수를 보였고, 지난 6개월 동안 자살 생각이 적었습니다(19% 대 38%).
• 높은 수용 집단의 31%가 자살을 시도한 적이 있었고, 낮은 수용 집단은 57%였습니다. 낮은 수용은 자살 생각과 시도의 오즈가 3배 넘는 것과 관련이 있었습니다.
• 가족 수용은 위험한 성행동과 관련이 없었습니다.
• 라틴계, 이민자, 종교적, 저소득 가족은 평균적으로 덜 수용적인 것으로 평가되었습니다.

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.