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. 2016 Mar;106(3):527-33.
doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2015.302976. Epub 2016 Jan 21.

The Effects of Cumulative Victimization on Mental Health Among Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Adolescents and Young Adults

Brian Mustanski  1 , Rebecca Andrews  1 , Jae A Puckett  1
Affiliations

The Effects of Cumulative Victimization on Mental Health Among Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Adolescents and Young Adults

Brian Mustanski et al. Am J Public Health. 2016 Mar.

Abstract

Objectives: To examine the effects of the cumulative victimization experienced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youths on mental disorders.

Methods: We recruited 248 participants from the Chicago, Illinois, area in 7 waves of data collected over 4 years, beginning in 2007 (83.1% retention rate). Mean age at enrollment was 18.7 years, and 54.7% were Black. We measured depression and posttraumatic stress disorder using structured psychiatric interviews.

Results: Latent class analyses of victimization over time identified a 4-class solution. Class 1 (65.4%) had low, decreasing victimization. Class 2 (10.3%) had moderate, increasing victimization. Class 3 (5.1%) had high, steady victimization. Class 4 (19.2%) had high, decreasing victimization. Controlling for baseline diagnoses and birth sex, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youths in classes 2 and 3 were at higher risk for depression than were those in class 1; youths in classes 2, 3, and 4 were at elevated risk for posttraumatic stress disorder.

Conclusions: Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youths with steadily high or increasing levels of victimization from adolescence to early adulthood are at higher risk for depression and posttraumatic stress disorder.

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Figures

FIGURE 1—
FIGURE 1—
Latent Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Victimization Trajectories for the 4-Class Latent Class Growth Analyses Model: Chicago, IL
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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