A study of gay, lesbian and bisexual teenagers found that they benefitted from same-sex relationships, but relationships with the opposite sex had no effect on their self- esteem, depression or anxiety.
Researchers from the University of Michigan School of Health studied 350 teenagers from three Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual/Transgender drop-in centers in New York City. Same-sex relationships helped girls in the study reduce internalized homophobia; for boys, such relationships raised self-esteem, if the relationships lasted long enough.
"I actually expected to see more associations between psychological distress and having an opposite sex partner," said Jose Bauermeister, lead author of the study. "But there was no association with self-esteem, depression, or anxiety. ... Having an opposite sex partner is not protective, but it is not harmful either."
The study appears in the journal Youth and Adolescence.
Many gay youth experience anti-gay slurs and other types of sexual bullying in school -- traumatic experiences that can inflict significant damage on their physical, emotional and mental well-being.
Labels: relationships, gay, lesbian
Posted By: By Parents For Parents