Comparing asexual and non-asexual sexual minority adolescents and young adults: stressors, suicidality and mental and behavioural health risk outcomes

ABSTRACT

Despite increasing scholarship on sexual minority youth (SMY), little is known about the experiences and outcomes of those who identify as asexual. This study investigates how internal and external stressors, mental health and health risk behaviours differ between asexual youth and other SMY. The study uses a sub-group analysis (n = 5,314) of an online survey of self-identified sexual and gender minority youth (SGMY). Descriptive and inferential statistics compare asexual (n = 669) to non-asexual (n = 4,645) respondents across two developmental phases – adolescence (age 14–19) and young adulthood (age 20–25) – while accounting for gender minority (e.g., transgender) self-identification. Results indicate that asexual youth had significantly higher internalised LGBTQ-phobia and tended to have poorer mental health (e.g., higher rates of depression), while having experienced less interpersonal discrimination/prejudice and having engaged in fewer health risk behaviours (e.g., substance use). Findings have implications for clinical practice. Future research should continue to investigate the impact of risk and protective factors on outcomes for asexual young people.

KEYWORDS:

• Asexual
• sexual minority
• stress
• mental health
• adolescents
• young adults

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to express their gratitude for the generosity of the study respondents.

Disclosure statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

Notes

1. This article shifts between LGB (lesbian, gay, and bisexual) youth, SMY (sexual minority youth), and GMY (gender minority youth) to allow specificity when synthesising existent literature and reporting study results. Sexual and gender minority youth (SGMY) is used when referring to the full study sample.

2. Asexual: generally, individuals who do not experience sexual attraction. Grey asexual: individuals who fall somewhere between sexual and asexual. Demisexual: individuals who do not experience sexual attraction without a pre-existing emotional connection (Asexual Visibility & Education Network (AVEN), n.d.).

3. The clinical definition of phobias refers to ‘psychological and physical reactions’ (White, 1999, p. 78) to feared objects or situations. Thus, homophobia, transphobia, etc. – terms referring to fear and/or enmity towards LGBTQ populations – are not proper phobias. Further, such terms do not encompass the full scope of identity-based discrimination (Meyer, 2003; White, 1999)

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by Insight and Partnership Grants from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada [#475-2015-0780 & #895-2018-1000]. Shelley L. Craig is the Canada Research Chair in Sexual and Gender Minority Youth. Andrew Eaton is supported by a salary award from the Ontario HIV Treatment Network (OHTN).

Notes on contributors

Lauren B. McInroy

Lauren B. McInroy, MSW, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the College of Social Work at The Ohio State University. Her research investigates the impacts of information and communication technologies (ICTs) on the well-being of marginalised adolescents and emerging adults. She explores how LGBTQ+ youth build communities of support, engage in identity development activities, foster resilience and well-being, and engage in advocacy using digital technologies.

Brieanne Beaujolais

Brieanne Beaujolais, MA, MSW, is a PhD student in the College of Social Work at The Ohio State University. Her research focuses on gender-based violence—both strategies for prevention and strategies to reduce health disparities among survivors of victimisation. She is particularly interested in the intersections of intrapersonal, interpersonal, and structural contexts that promote health, well-being, and empowerment for marginalised populations that are vulnerable to violence.

Vivian W. Y. Leung

Vivian W. Y. Leung, MA, is a Ph.D. Candidate in the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work at the University of Toronto. Her research interests focus on migration, race/ethnicity, identity development, and sexual and gender minority populations.

Shelley L. Craig

Shelley L. Craig, PhD, RSW, is a Professor at the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work (FIFSW) at the University of Toronto, and is the Canada Research Chair in Sexual and Gender Minority Youth (SGMY). She directs the International Partnership for Queer Youth Resilience (INQYR). Dr. Craig’s research is supported by the Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).

Andrew D. Eaton

Andrew D. Eaton, MSW, RSW, is a PhD Candidate at the University of Toronto in the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work. He holds a Student Leader Award from the Ontario HIV Treatment Network (OHTN). Mr. Eaton’s research is supported by the OHTN and the CIHR Canadian HIV Trials Network (CTN).

Ashley Austin

Ashley Austin, PhD, is a Professor at the Ellen Whiteside McDonnell School of Social Work at Barry University. Dr. Austin is also the Director of the Center for Human Rights and Social Justice (CHRSJ).