Psychosocial Risk and Protective Factors for Depression Among Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Queer Youth: A Systematic Review

• Published in: Journal of homosexuality Vol. 65; no. 3; pp. 263 - 316
• Main Author: Hall, William J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Routledge 01.01.2018; Taylor & Francis LLC
• Subjects: Adolescent; Behavior problems; Bibliographic data bases; Bisexual; Bisexuality; Bullying; Child abuse & neglect; Coping; depression; Depression - prevention & control; Depression - psychology; Family support; Female; Friendship; gay; Health problems; Homosexuality; Humans; Identity; Internalization; Interpersonal Relations; lesbian; Lesbianism; Male; Mental depression; Mental health; Negative events; Oppression; Parental rejection; Parents & parenting; Protective factors; Psychosocial development; Psychosocial factors; Psychosocial intervention; queer; Religion; Religious experiences; risk and protective factors; Risk factors; Self esteem; Sexual and Gender Minorities - psychology; Sexuality; Social Identification; Social identity; Social support; Stress; Stress, Psychological; Systematic review; Trauma; Victimization; Youth; Bisexual; queer; lesbian; psychosocial factors; depression; gay; youth; risk and protective factors
• ISSN: 0091-8369; 1540-3602
• DOI: 10.1080/00918369.2017.1317467

Many lesbian, gay, bisexual, or queer (LGBQ) youth suffer from depression. Identifying modifiable risk and protective factors for depression can inform the development of psychosocial interventions. The aim of this review is to evaluate the methodological characteristics and summarize the substantive findings of studies examining psychosocial risk and protective factors for depression among LGBQ youth. Eight bibliographic databases were searched, and 35 studies that met all inclusion criteria were included for review. Results show that prominent risk factors for depression include internalized LGBQ-related oppression, stress from hiding and managing a socially stigmatized identity, maladaptive coping, parental rejection, abuse and other traumatic events, negative interpersonal interactions, negative religious experiences, school bullying victimization, and violence victimization in community settings. Prominent protective factors include a positive LGBQ identity, self-esteem, social support from friends, and family support. LGBQ youth may face an array of threats to their mental health originating from multiple socioecological levels.