The Effect of Sexual Behavior, Gender Identity, and Sexual Orientation on Mental Health Among Adolescents: A Scoping Review
Abstract
Recent CDC data from 2021 indicates an excess of one-third of high school students are struggling with poor mental health, which is a major public health concern. There is a growing body of literature about the relationship between sexual orientation and gender identity on mental health among adolescents, highlighting the need for further research on the intersection between mental health and sexuality in this vulnerable population. The objective of this scoping review is to provide a comprehensive understanding of existing literature on the relationship between sexual behaviors, gender identity, and sexual orientation on mental health among adolescents. A scoping review methodology was used to identify relevant peer-reviewed articles in accord with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) checklist across multiple databases, including PubMed and Google Scholar. The selected studies reviewed met pre-determined inclusion and exclusion criteria; eligible studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the review. Depression, anxiety, and suicide rates are higher in females and groups of differing sexual orientation than in males and heterosexuals, with having multiple partners increasing rates of suicide ideation and depression. The majority of the studies found were cross-sectional; thus, additional longitudinal research is needed to fully understand the complex relationship between sexual orientation, gender, sexual behavior, and suicide rates. This research is significant for public health when designing school-based interventions to target high-risk groups to mitigate mental health issues and suicide among adolescents.
Faculty Sponsors
Dr. Erin Biggs
Project Type
Event
Location
Alvin Sherman Library
Start Date
4-5-2023 12:00 PM
End Date
4-6-2023 4:00 PM
The Effect of Sexual Behavior, Gender Identity, and Sexual Orientation on Mental Health Among Adolescents: A Scoping Review
Alvin Sherman Library
Recent CDC data from 2021 indicates an excess of one-third of high school students are struggling with poor mental health, which is a major public health concern. There is a growing body of literature about the relationship between sexual orientation and gender identity on mental health among adolescents, highlighting the need for further research on the intersection between mental health and sexuality in this vulnerable population. The objective of this scoping review is to provide a comprehensive understanding of existing literature on the relationship between sexual behaviors, gender identity, and sexual orientation on mental health among adolescents. A scoping review methodology was used to identify relevant peer-reviewed articles in accord with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) checklist across multiple databases, including PubMed and Google Scholar. The selected studies reviewed met pre-determined inclusion and exclusion criteria; eligible studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the review. Depression, anxiety, and suicide rates are higher in females and groups of differing sexual orientation than in males and heterosexuals, with having multiple partners increasing rates of suicide ideation and depression. The majority of the studies found were cross-sectional; thus, additional longitudinal research is needed to fully understand the complex relationship between sexual orientation, gender, sexual behavior, and suicide rates. This research is significant for public health when designing school-based interventions to target high-risk groups to mitigate mental health issues and suicide among adolescents.
