The Mental Health of Multiethnic Lesbian and Bisexual Adolescent Females: The Role of Self-Efficacy, Stress and Behavioral Risks

Abstract

Multiethnic lesbian and bisexual adolescent females (MLBAF) are vulnerable to health and mental health risks, such as depression, suicide, self-harm, family and school concerns, and stress resulting from a “triple jeopardy” of marginalization, yet these risks remain virtually unstudied. Based on minority stress theory, this pilot study found that for a sample of MLBAF (n = 116), the odds of self-reported poor mental health were more than five times higher for each unit increase in stress and almost seven times higher for sexual abuse. The presence of youth substance abuse academic problems and younger age made a significant contribution to poor self-reported mental health while high self-efficacy scores resulted in significantly fewer mental health concerns. Implications for practice are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• sexual minority youth
• lesbian
• bisexual
• self-efficacy
• Hispanic
• stress
• mental health