A Joint Modeling Approach for Longitudinal Outcomes and Non-ignorable Dropout under Population Heterogeneity in Mental Health Studies.

The paper proposes a joint mixture model to model non-ignorable drop-out in longitudinal cohort studies of mental health outcomes. The model combines a (non)-linear growth curve model for the time-dependent outcomes and a discrete-time survival model for the drop-out with random effects shared by the two sub-models. The mixture part of the model takes into account population heterogeneity by accounting for latent subgroups of the shared effects that may lead to different patterns for the growth and the drop-out tendency.

Parental Responses to Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Youth: Associations with Parent Support, Parental Abuse, and Youths' Psychological Adjustment.

The purpose of this study was to examine parental responses to transgender and gender nonconforming [TGNC] youths' gender identities and explore associations of parent support with parental abuse, depressive symptoms, and LGBT-identity disclosure stress. TGNC youth ( = 129), ages 15-21 ( = 18.00,  = 1.

LGBTQ Youth-Serving Community-Based Organizations: Who Participates and What Difference Does it Make?

LGBTQ youth are at greater risk for compromised health, yet large-scale health promotion programs for LGBTQ young people have been slow to develop. LGBTQ community-based organizations-which provide LGBTQ-focused support and services-have existed for decades, but have not been a focus of the LGBTQ youth health literature. The current study used a contemporary sample of LGBTQ youth (age 15-21; M = 18.

Predictors and Mental Health Benefits of Chosen Name Use among Transgender Youth.

Chosen name use among transgender youth (youth whose gender identities are different than their sex assigned at birth) can be part of the complex process of aligning gender presentation with gender identity and can promote mental health. However, little is known about the factors that predict whether or not transgender youth have a chosen name and outcomes of chosen name use, especially in specific social contexts. We examined, among a sample of 129 transgender youth from three cities in the United States, differences in sociodemographic characteristics and mental health outcomes between transgender youth with and without a chosen name and, among those with a chosen name, predictors and mental health benefits of being able to use a chosen name at home, school, and work.

Gay-Straight Alliances, Inclusive Policy, and School Climate: LGBTQ Youths' Experiences of Social Support and Bullying.

Gay-Straight Alliances (GSA) and school policies focused on support for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning youth may reduce bias-based bullying and enhance social supports in schools. Using multivariate regression, we tested the relationship between youth reports of the presence of GSAs and LGBTQ-focused policies, independently and mutually, with experiences bullying and perceived support (n = 1,061). Youth reported higher classmate support in the presence of GSAs and higher teacher support in the presence of LGBTQ-focused policies; the presence of both GSAs and LGBTQ-focused policies was associated with less bullying and higher perceived classmate and teacher support.

Sources of Social Support and Mental Health Among LGB Youth.

Disparities in psychosocial adjustment have been identified for lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) youth, yet research that explores multiple sources of social support among subgroups of LGB youth is sparse. Social support theory is used as a framework to analyze the ways that different sources of support might promote better psychosocial adjustment for LGB youth. Data from a diverse sample among LGB youth ( = 835) were used to understand how social support from a close friend, teachers, classmates, and parents might be differently associated with depression and self-esteem.

Disclosure Stress, Social Support, and Depressive Symptoms Among Cisgender Bisexual Youth.

Bisexual youth are at elevated risk for depression compared to lesbians and gay men. Research on bisexual stigma suggests these youth are uniquely vulnerable to stress related to sexual identity disclosure. Depression associated with this stress may be buffered by social support from parents and friends.

Domestic harm and neglect among lesbian, gay, and bisexual older adults.

This study examined harm, hurt, and neglect by caregivers as well as self-neglect and physical and mental health status among 113 lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) older adults aged 60-88 years, who attended community-based social and recreation programs or groups in the United States. Reporting on their experiences with caregivers, 22.1% of the participants experienced at least one type of harm, including physical, emotional, verbal, sexual, financial, and neglectful; additionally, 25.

Relationship trajectories and psychological well-being among sexual minority youth.

Dating in adolescence plays an integral part in the development of sexual and social identities. This process is particularly salient for sexual minority youth who face additional obstacles to their identity formation due to their marginalized status. We investigated the influence of participating in a same-sex relationship (SSR) or an opposite-sex relationship (OSR) on sexual minority youths' psychological well-being (i.

Childhood gender atypicality, victimization, and PTSD among lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth.

This study examined childhood gender atypicality, lifetime victimization based on sexual orientation, and current mental health, including trauma symptoms and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), among 528 lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth. Nearly 80% reported verbal victimization, 11% physical, and 9% sexual, with males reporting significantly more victimization. Victimization began, on average, at age 13.

Transgender youth: invisible and vulnerable.

This study used three focus groups to explore factors that affect the experiences of youth (ages 15 to 21) who identify as transgender. The focus groups were designed to probe transgender youths' experiences of vulnerability in the areas of health and mental health. This involved their exposure to risks, discrimination, marginalization, and their access to supportive resources.