Internalizing symptoms and externalizing behaviors in Latinx adolescents with same sex behaviors in Miami

Abstract

Sexual minorities report poorer mental health relative to heterosexual counterparts, but this is underexplored in Latinx youth. This study compares internalizing symptoms and externalizing behaviors in Latinx adolescents with Same Sex Behaviors (LASSB) to their Latinx adolescent peers who did not report same sex behaviors (non-LASSB). It also explores the moderating role of biculturalism on the relationship between internalizing symptoms and externalizing behaviors, and same-sex behaviors. Individual-level baseline data (Total N = 1,634; LASSB n = 195) from five trials of a preventive intervention for Latinx adolescents were synthesized. Normal and clinical levels of internalizing symptoms and externalizing behaviors were determined, and logistic regression models were conducted to determine the odds of LASSB reporting these behaviors relative to non-LASSB. Additional adjusted models tested for the moderating effect of biculturalism. LASSB reported significantly higher odds of normal levels of all externalizing behaviors and clinical levels of anxious/depressed compared to non-LASSB. Biculturalism significantly moderated the association between same-sex behavior and clinical levels of internalizing behaviors; however, in subgroup analyses among LASSB, biculturalism did not significantly predict any of these behaviors. Latinx adolescents exhibited mental health disparities by same-sex behavior. Biculturalism may be an important indicator for describing these disparities in LASSB and should be further explored.

Keywords:

• Adolescents
• Latinx
• depression
• culture

Ethical information

This study was approved by the University of Miami Social and Behavioral Sciences Institutional Review Board (Protocol ID: 20150665).

Disclosure statement

There is no financial interest or benefit that has arisen from the direct applications of this research. The author(s) have declared that they have no competing or potential conflicts of interest.

Additional information

Funding

Funding has come from the following sources: National Institute on Drug Abuse Grant No. F31DA040562 (PI: Manuel A. Ocasio); National Institute on Drug Abuse Grant No. R01DA025192 (PI: Guillermo Prado); National Institute on Drug Abuse Grant No. R01DA025894 (PI: Guillermo Prado); National Institute on Drug Abuse Grant No. R01DA017462 (PI: Hilda Pantin); Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Grant No. U01PS0000671 (PI: Guillermo Prado); National Institute of Mental Health Grant No. R01MH63042 (PI: José Szapocznik). These funding sources had no role in the study design; in the collection, analysis and interpretation of data; in the writing of the report; nor in the decision to submit the article for publication.

Notes on contributors

Manuel A. Ocasio

Dr. Manuel A. Ocasio is an Assistant Professor in the Tulane University School of Medicine and is the Director of Behavioral Research and Community Engagement for the Adolescent Medicine Section. His research focuses on addressing sexual health and other public health inequities among sexual and gender minorities who are also ethnic/racial minorities.

Gregory R. Tapia

Mr. Gregory R. Tapia, M.P.H. is a third year medical student at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine. He received his Master of Public Health degree in 2012 from the University of Miami and worked for several years in HIV sociobehavioral research. His interests include mental health in sexual minorities, substance use, and risk behaviors.

Alyssa Lozano

Ms. Alyssa Lozano, M.S. received her Masters of Science in Prevention Science and Community Health at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. Her research interests include working with different populations of Hispanic youth in addressing inequities in substance use and mental health outcomes.

Adam W. Carrico

Dr. Adam Carrico is a Professor of Public Health Sciences and Psychology. His research focuses on addressing the intertwining epidemics of substance use and HIV among sexual minority men.

Guillermo Prado

Dr. Guillermo Prado is the Leonard M. Miller Professor of Public Health Sciences and Director of the Division of Prevention Science and Community Health at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. His research focuses on developing, evaluating, and translating preventive interventions for addressing smoking, alcohol, drug abuse, HIV, and obesity health disparities among Hispanic youth.