Perceptions of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Minority Adolescents About Labels.
Carolyn M Porta, Amy L Gower, Camille Brown and 2 others
PMID 30943875WHAT IT FOUND
Among 66 sexual and gender minority adolescents, labels varied widely, and finding one that fit brought relief.
Ask patients which terms they use, accept non-traditional labels, and refer to supports. Do not reduce them to a label.
Key findings
01Sexual and gender minority adolescents used a wide range of labels, with about two-thirds relying on traditional labels and the rest using non-traditional labels or unique self-descriptions.
02Finding a label that fit was associated with positive emotions, from relief to euphoria, while youth said labels did not define their whole selves.
03Youth who used non-traditional sexual orientation labels were also more likely to use non-traditional gender labels or identify as trans.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The interviews were not designed to ask about sexual and gender identity labels, so comments came from youth who raised it spontaneously or were prompted, which may miss some perspectives. Identity labels recorded at intake may have been shortened or reworded, so some nuance was lost. Parental consent was required in Minnesota for most participants, which may have excluded adolescents not out to parents. Recruitment through LGBTQ youth organizations, events and word of mouth likely reached young people already connected to services and possibly already out publicly. The sample of 66 is small, and differences by location and state or province could not be tested reliably. The study describes perceptions and associations, not whether using certain labels changes health care or health outcomes.
Declared interests
The supplied text reports NIH extramural research support. It does not include an author conflict-of-interest declaration.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that using non-traditional labels causes better care or that all sexual and gender minority adolescents identify this way. The study describes adolescents recruited mainly through LGBTQ organizations and does not test whether provider label use changes outcomes.