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Stressful childhood experiences and health outcomes in sexual minority populations: a systematic review

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Abstract

Purpose

Stressful childhood experiences (SCE) are associated with many different health outcomes, such as psychiatric symptoms, physical illnesses, alcohol and drug abuse, and victimization experiences. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people are at risk to be victims of SCE and show higher prevalence of SCE when compared with heterosexual controls.

Methods

This review analyzed systematically 73 articles that addressed different types of SCE in sexual minority populations and included items of household dysfunction. The samples included adults who identified either their sexual orientation as non-heterosexual or their gender identity as transgender.

Results

The studies reported childhood sexual abuse (CSA), childhood physical abuse (CPA), childhood emotional abuse (CEA), childhood physical neglect, and childhood emotional neglect. Items of household dysfunction were substance abuse of caregiver, parental separation, family history of mental illness, incarceration of caregiver, and witnessing violence. Prevalence of CSA showed a median of 33.5 % for studies using non-probability sampling and 20.7 % for those with probability sampling, the rates for CPA were 23.5 % (non-probability sampling) and 28.7 % (probability sampling). For CEA, the rates were 48.5 %, non-probability sampling, and 47.5 %, probability sampling. Outcomes related to SCE in LGBT populations included psychiatric symptoms, substance abuse, revictimization, dysfunctional behavioral adjustments, and others.

Conclusions

LGBT populations showed high prevalence of SCE. Outcomes related to SCE ranged from psychiatric symptoms and disorders to physical ailments. Most studies were based in the USA. Future research should aim to target culturally different LGBT population in the rest of the world.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Psychiatrische Dienste Graubuenden (PDGR), Plazza Paracelsus 2, 7500, St. Moritz, Switzerland

    Andres R. Schneeberger & Michael F. Dietl

  2. Department of Psychiatry, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA

    Andres R. Schneeberger & Kristina H. Muenzenmaier

  3. Universitaere Psychiatrische Kliniken (UPK), Wilhelm Klein-Strasse 27, 4012, Basel, Switzerland

    Andres R. Schneeberger, Christian G. Huber & Undine E. Lang

  4. Bronx Psychiatric Center, 1500 Waters Place, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA

    Kristina H. Muenzenmaier

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  1. Andres R. Schneeberger
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  2. Michael F. Dietl
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  3. Kristina H. Muenzenmaier
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  4. Christian G. Huber
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  5. Undine E. Lang
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Correspondence to Andres R. Schneeberger.

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Schneeberger, A.R., Dietl, M.F., Muenzenmaier, K.H. et al. Stressful childhood experiences and health outcomes in sexual minority populations: a systematic review. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 49, 1427–1445 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-014-0854-8

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