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24-12-2024 | Empirical Research

Mental Health Disparities Between Both-, Other- and Same-Sex Attracted Adolescents: The Role of Bullying Victimization, Gender and Age

Auteurs: Vera H. Cup, Henny M. W. Bos, Gonneke W. J. M. Stevens, Margreet E. de Looze

Gepubliceerd in: Journal of Youth and Adolescence | Uitgave 5/2025

Abstract

Research shows that both-sex attracted adults have poorer mental health than other- and same-sex attracted adults, but evidence regarding whether similar disparities exist among adolescents remains limited. To investigate this, the current study examines differences in life satisfaction and emotional problems between both-, other- and same-sex attracted adolescents. It also studies whether bullying victimization can explain these differences and whether the associations vary by gender and age. Cross-sectional data from the nationally-representative Dutch Health Behavior in School-aged Children (HBSC) study conducted in 2017 and 2021 were analyzed, including 11,683 adolescents (M_age = 14.7, SD = 1.60; 49.7% girls). Both-sex attracted adolescents (n = 507, 4.3%) report lower life satisfaction and more emotional problems than their other- (n = 10,930, 93.6%) and same-sex attracted peers (n = 246, 2.1%). Bullying victimization partially explains the mental health disparities between both- and other-sex attracted adolescents, yet does not account for differences between both- and same-sex attracted peers. The links between romantic attraction and mental health outcomes were similar across gender and age, but differences existed concerning bullying victimization. The results suggest that both-sex attracted adolescents are a unique group that deserves special attention in the literature on mental health disparities.

vorige artikel What Makes for a Vitalizing Day in Adolescence? Antecedents and Outcomes of Daily Need Crafting

volgende artikel How Perceptions of the Accuracy of Parental Praise and Criticism Link With Child Adjustment: The Mediating Role of Perfectionism

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In this paper, the term ‘both-sex attracted’ is primarily used to describe sexual orientation, as it best represents the way in which it was measured in the current study. The term ‘bisexual’ is sometimes used for clarity or when it better fits the context. Bisexuality is defined as a sexual orientation characterized by emotional, romantic and/or sexual attraction to individuals of more than one gender.

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Titel: Mental Health Disparities Between Both-, Other- and Same-Sex Attracted Adolescents: The Role of Bullying Victimization, Gender and Age
Auteurs: Vera H. Cup
Henny M. W. Bos
Gonneke W. J. M. Stevens
Margreet E. de Looze
Publicatiedatum: 24-12-2024
Uitgeverij: Springer US
Gepubliceerd in: Journal of Youth and Adolescence / Uitgave 5/2025
Print ISSN: 0047-2891
Elektronisch ISSN: 1573-6601
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-024-02124-1

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Mental Health Disparities Between Both-, Other- and Same-Sex Attracted Adolescents: The Role of Bullying Victimization, Gender and Age

Abstract

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