Family acceptance protects LGBT youth against depression, suicide
December 7th, 2010 - 11:16 am ICT by ANIWashington, Dec 7 (ANI): Scientists have established a link between accepting family attitudes and behaviours towards their lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) children and significantly decreased risk and better overall health in adulthood.
The study has shown that specific parental and caregiver behaviours-such as advocating for their children when they are mistreated because of their LGBT identity or supporting their gender expression-protect against depression, substance abuse, suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts in early adulthood.
In addition, LGBT youth with highly accepting families have significantly higher levels of self-esteem and social support in young adulthood.
“At a time when the media and families are becoming acutely aware of the risk that many LGBT youth experience, our findings that family acceptance protects against suicidal thoughts and behaviors, depression and substance abuse offer a gateway to hope for LGBT youth and families that struggle with how to balance deeply held religious and personal values with love for their LGBT children,” said Caitlin Ryan, of the San Francisco State University.
The study, authored by Ryan and her team from the Family Acceptance Project, has critical implications for changing how families relate to their LGBT children and how LGBT youth are served by a wide range of providers across disciplines and systems of care, including custodial care systems such as foster care.
The study was published in the Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing. (ANI)
- Family rejection of gay, bisexual kids linked to poor health in adulthood - Dec 29, 2008
- ADHD kids '2 to 3 times more prone to substance abuse problems' - Feb 12, 2011
- Mums' depression adversely affects quality of life in kids with epilepsy - Jan 06, 2011
- 'Abused kids face elevated cancer risk as adults' - Jul 18, 2012
- Child neglect as harmful as physical or sexual abuse: Study - Dec 27, 2010
- Family bonding key to reducing teen suicidal behaviour - Apr 14, 2009
- Baby boys getting dad's love grow up happier - Jul 19, 2012
- Sexually abused kids at higher risk of schizophrenia - Nov 08, 2010
- Injected drug linked to higher suicide risk - Dec 26, 2011
- Post-traumatic stress disorder linked to suicidal tendency among war veterans - Aug 26, 2009
- Warm parenting offers hope for callous, unemotional kids - Jul 25, 2012
- A third of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender youth suffer mental disorders - Dec 02, 2010
- Women linked to drug abuse at depression risk - Nov 14, 2011
- Chinese parents learning to accept homosexuality - Oct 31, 2010
- Teenagers attempting suicide more likely to abuse partners as adults - Jun 14, 2010
Tags: behaviours, caitlin ryan, custodial care, depression suicide, disciplines, early adulthood, family acceptance, family attitudes, foster care, gender expression, journal of child and adolescent psychiatric nursing, personal values, san francisco state university, scientists, self esteem, substance abuse, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts, young adulthood, youth experience