Bullying, depression, and parental acceptance in a sample of Latinx sexual and gender minority youth

Abstract

Sexual and gender minority (SGM) youth of color—in particular Latinx SGM youth—experience higher incidents of bullying compared to heterosexual and cisgender White youth. These disparities oftentimes explain increased negative mental health outcomes, such as depression. Parental acceptance may be a particularly important buffer to the effects of bullying on negative mental health outcomes among Latinx SGM youth. In a sample of 1,005 Latinx SGM youth (ages 13-17), we assessed: (a) the prevalence of parental acceptance and bullying, (b) the influence of bullying on depression, and (c) whether the relationship between bullying and depression was moderated by parental acceptance. Results showed that, on average, Latinx SGM youth reported rarely experiencing parental acceptance, frequently experiencing symptoms of depression, and frequently being bullied. Findings revealed that parental acceptance and bullying were significantly related to depression. Furthermore, there was no interaction between parental acceptance and bullying on depression. Findings have implications for how different Latinx cultural values may be further considered to better understand Latinx SGM youth’s perception of their parental figure’s acceptance of their sexual and gender identity and its role on bullying and depression.

Keywords:

• Bullying
• depression
• Latinx
• sexual and gender minority
• youth
• parental acceptance

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Roberto L. Abreu

Roberto L. Abreu, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Florida and the director of the Collective Healing and Empowering VoicEs through Research and Engagement (¡Chévere!) Lab. His research focuses on the well-being of LGBTQ individuals, Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color (BIPOC), and those who self-identify at the intersection of LGBTQ and BIPOC identities. Specifically, Dr. Abreu’s research explores ways in which families and community members navigate relationships with their LGBTQ members.

G. Tyler Lefevor

G. Tyler Lefevor, PhD, I am an Assistant Professor in the combined Clinical/Counseling program at Utah State University. His research examines how and when religiousness is related to health among sexual and gender minorities to better inform psychotherapy and public policy.

Kirsten A. Gonzalez

Kirsten A. Gonzalez, PhD, is an Assistant Professor of Counseling Psychology at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK) and the director of the Research on Social Intersections at Tennessee (ReSIsT) Lab. Her research interests include the psychological well-being of LGBTQ + People of Color, the intersection of Latinx and LGBTQ + identities, belonging and community connection for LGBTQ people broadly and bisexual and transgender folks specifically, ally development, social justice advocacy and interventions, biracial/multiracial experience, intersectionality, minority, race-related, and acculturative stress, and sociopolitical experiences of marginalization across race/ethnicity, gender identity, and sexual orientation.

Aldo M. Barrita

Aldo M. Barrita, MA, is a doctoral student affiliate in the Psychological and Brain Sciences Ph.D. program at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. His research explores the psychological impact of racial, ethnic and sexual minority microaggression on marginalized individuals.

Ryan J. Watson

Ryan J. Watson, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, University of Connecticut. His program of research is focused on reducing health disparities among sexual and gender minority (SGM) youth and young adults, including their relationships within family and school contexts and their health experiences.