Gender Nonconformity, Minority Stress, and Psychological Distress Among Sexual Minority Adolescents

Purpose: Sexual minority adolescents (SMAs) have disproportionate experiences of mental health symptoms during adolescence, and minority stress contributes to mental health inequities among SMAs. Gender nonconformity (GNC) could place SMAs at higher risk for minority stress and subsequent mental health symptoms. The current study was designed to examine associations between GNC, minority stress, and psychological distress among SMAs.Method: SMAs ages 12-17 years (n = 455; mean age = 15.52 years) in the United States completed a cross-sectional online survey from February to July 2022, including measures of GNC, peer victimization, family rejection, negative expectations, negative disclosure experiences, internalized homonegativity, and psychological distress. We conducted path analysis to examine associations between GNC, minority stressors, and psychological distress, including indirect effects of GNC on psychological distress via minority stress.Results: In multivariable path analysis adjusted for demographic characteristics, GNC was associated with higher levels of peer victimization and negative expectations and lower internalized homonegativity among SMAs. Higher levels of peer victimization and negative expectations were associated with higher psychological distress. GNC was indirectly related to higher levels of psychological distress via higher peer victimization.Conclusions: The current study is the first to document associations between GNC and multiple minority stress experiences among SMAs, and GNC was indirectly related to psychological distress among SMAs via peer victimization. Although all SMAs would benefit from interventions designed to reduce peer victimization and increase their capacity to cope with minority stress, such interventions may be particularly beneficial for SMAs who are gender nonconforming.