TY - JOUR
T1 - How depressed and suicidal sexual minority adolescents understand the causes of their distress
AU - Diamond, Gary M.
AU - Shilo, Guy
AU - Jurgensen, Erin
AU - D'Augelli, Anthony
AU - Samarova, Valeria
AU - White, Khendi
N1 - Funding Information:
This study was supported, in part, by a grant from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Address correspondence to Gary M. Diamond, PhD, Department of Psychology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O.B. 653, Beer-Sheva, Israel. E-mail: [email protected]
PY - 2011/4/1
Y1 - 2011/4/1
N2 - This study examined how lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) adolescents reporting clinically significant depressive and suicidal symptoms understand the causes of their psychological distress. The role of the quality of the adolescent-parent relationship as a risk or protective factor was explored. Ten qualitative interviews were analyzed using the Consensual Qualitative Research method. Results showed that adolescents viewed family rejection of sexual orientation, extra-familial LGB related victimization, and non-LGB related negative family life events as the most common causes of their psychological distress. Most of the adolescents also reported experiencing support from at least one family member, and half reported experiencing significant extra-familial (e.g., peers, school counselor) support. Almost all of the adolescents reported wishing that their relationships with their parents were closer and characterized by more acceptance, as well as a willingness to participate in family therapy to improve their relationships with their parents. Clinical implications are discussed.
AB - This study examined how lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) adolescents reporting clinically significant depressive and suicidal symptoms understand the causes of their psychological distress. The role of the quality of the adolescent-parent relationship as a risk or protective factor was explored. Ten qualitative interviews were analyzed using the Consensual Qualitative Research method. Results showed that adolescents viewed family rejection of sexual orientation, extra-familial LGB related victimization, and non-LGB related negative family life events as the most common causes of their psychological distress. Most of the adolescents also reported experiencing support from at least one family member, and half reported experiencing significant extra-familial (e.g., peers, school counselor) support. Almost all of the adolescents reported wishing that their relationships with their parents were closer and characterized by more acceptance, as well as a willingness to participate in family therapy to improve their relationships with their parents. Clinical implications are discussed.
KW - Adolescent
KW - Bisexual
KW - Depression
KW - Family therapy
KW - Gay
KW - Lesbian
KW - Parents
KW - Suicide
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=79954553097&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/19359705.2010.532668
DO - 10.1080/19359705.2010.532668
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:79954553097
SN - 1935-9705
VL - 15
SP - 130
EP - 151
JO - Journal of Gay and Lesbian Mental Health
JF - Journal of Gay and Lesbian Mental Health
IS - 2
ER -