Elsevier

Journal of Adolescence

Volume 24, Issue 1, February 2001, Pages 5-13
Journal of Adolescence

Regular Article
A critique of research on sexual-minority youths

https://doi.org/10.1006/jado.2000.0369Get rights and content

Abstract

Developmental scientists should seriously reconsider traditional empirical and theoretical paradigms that narrowly define sexual-minority adolescents in terms of those who adopt a culturally defined sexual identity label. A broader consideration of youth populations who have same-sex desires but who might not necessarily identify as gay, lesbian or bisexual, lead one to a very different understanding of sexual-minority youths than is apparent in most published studies. First, they are in most regards just like all other adolescents with similar developmental needs and concerns. Second, they are not a homogeneous group but vary among themselves in predictable ways. Third, this expanded definition allows us to conclude that same-sex attractionper se does not lead to pathology or to problematic behavior such as drug abuse, suicide, prostitution or HIV infection. Indeed, researchers and clinicians should focus on the resiliency that often characterizes sexual-minority youths.

References (37)

  • A.F. Bogaert et al.

    Physical development and sexual orientation in men: Height, weight and age of puberty differences

    Personality and Individual Differences

    (1996)
  • R.H. DuRant et al.

    Victimization, use of violence, and drug use at school among male adolescents who engage in same-sex sexual behavior

    Journal of Pediatrics

    (1998)
  • C. Bagley et al.

    Suicidal behaviours in homosexual and bisexual males

    Crisis: The Journal of Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention

    (1997)
  • Battle, C. 1998, February, Sexual identity development among ethnic/sexual minority males, Paper presented at the...
  • A.P. Bell et al.

    Homosexualities: A Study of Diversity Among Men and Women

    (1978)
  • A.F. Bogaert et al.

    The relation between sexual orientation and penile size

    Archives of Sexual Behavior

    (1999)
  • V. Cass

    Homosexual identity formation: a theoretical model

    Journal of Homosexuality

    (1979)
  • Cohen, K. M. 1999, The Biology of Male Sexual Orientation: Relationship Among Homoeroticism, Childhood Sex-atypical...
  • W.E. Cross

    Shades of Black: Diversity in African-American Identity

    (1991)
  • L.M. Diamond

    Development of sexual orientation among adolescent and young adult women

    Developmental Psychology

    (1998)
  • L.M. Diamond

    Sexual identity, attractions, and behavior among young sexual-minority women over a 2-year period

    Developmental Psychology

    (2000)
  • L.M. Diamond et al.

    Explaining diversity in the development of same-sex sexuality among young women

    Journal of Social Issues

    (2000)
  • E.M. Dubé

    The role of sexual behavior in the identification process of gay and bisexual males

    Journal of Sex Research

    (2001)
  • E.M. Dubé et al.

    Sexual identity development among ethnic sexual-minority male youths

    Developmental Psychology

    (1999)
  • K.G. Esterberg

    Lesbian and Bisexual Identities: Constructing Communities, Constructing Selves

    (1997)
  • D.M. Fergusson et al.

    Is sexual orientation related to mental health problems and suicidality in young people?

    Archives of General Psychiatry

    (1999)
  • R. Garofalo et al.

    The association between health risk behaviors and sexual orientation among a school-based sample of adolescents

    Pediatrics

    (1998)
  • S.L. Hershberger et al.

    Predictors of suicide attempts among gay, lesbian, and bisexual youth

    Journal of Adolescent Research

    (1997)
  • Cited by (0)

    f1

    Reprint requests and correspondence should be addressed to: Ritch C. Savin-Williams, Department of Human Development, MVR Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, U.S.A. (E-mail: [email protected]).

    View full text