Publication
Title
Acculturation strategies and mental health in gay, lesbian, and bisexual youth
Author
Abstract
In this article, we examine the impact of acculturation strategies on minority stress and mental health in lesbian, gay, or bisexual (LGB) youth in Flanders, Belgium. Building on previous identity minority studies and on the social stress model, we investigate how LGB youth acculturate within both the LGB subculture and mainstream society and how this correlates with their mental health. Our sample is taken from an online survey and represents 561 LGB youth aged 14 through 21. The four traditional acculturation strategies are represented in this population (integration, separation, marginalization, assimilation). Bisexual boys are mostly absent from separation and integration strategies; gay and lesbian youth in middle adolescence are significantly more represented in the separation strategy compared to their late adolescence counterparts. Further, our findings suggest the relevance of identification with the LGB community, especially for internalized negative attitudes toward homosexuality. LGB youth who identify with the LGB community score significantly lower on this internalized homonegativity.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Journal of youth and adolescence. - New York, N.Y., 1972, currens
Publication
New York, N.Y. : Springer , 2010
ISSN
0047-2891 [print]
1573-6601 [online]
DOI
10.1007/S10964-009-9435-7
Volume/pages
39 :10 (2010) , p. 1199-1210
ISI
000280681600007
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 23.09.2010
Last edited 23.08.2022
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