Promoting Health and Reducing Risk among Hispanic Sexual Minority Youth and their Families

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PROJECT SUMMARY Hispanic sexual minority youth (HSMY) engage in higher levels of drug use and report higher levels of depressive symptoms compared to their heterosexual and non-Hispanic sexual minority peers. Research on risk and protective factors for HSMY has largely focused on non-Hispanic sexual minority youth and does not consider the additional challenges that racial/ethnic sexual minority youth such as HSMY face that subsequently impact drug use and depressive symptoms outcomes. Moreover, the existing literature on risk and protective factors for drug use and depression among HSMY has largely focused on the impact of individual risk and/or protective factors and not how intersecting identity markers such as sexual orientation, acculturation, time in US, and language may impact drug use and depression outcomes among HSMY. It is important to simultaneously consider the interdependence of these salient identity markers and how they impact negative health outcomes among HSMY. Understanding how intersecting identities act synergistically to impact drug use and mental health outcomes among Hispanic sexual minority youth has implications for future interventions with this population. To better understand how sexual orientation, acculturation, time in US, and language impact drug use and depression outcomes among HSMY, this study will utilize quantitative data from three Familias Unidas intervention trials (a family-based preventive intervention for Hispanic adolescents) and the Familias con Orgullo pilot randomized controlled trial (a family based preventive intervention for Hispanic sexual minority youth). Specifically, we will be using advanced statistical techniques such as latent class analysis to identify intersectional profiles of HSMY with indicators of sexual orientation, acculturation, time in US, and language. Moreover, we will examine whether the Familia Unidas and Familias con Orgullo (intervention being evaluated in parent grant) are efficacious in decreasing drug use and depressive symptoms and if the relationship between the intervention conditions and past 90-day drug use and depressive symptoms is mediated by family functioning and whether this relationship is moderated by identified classes. Intersectionality theory has only been utilized in limited contexts with HSMY. This study will potentially identify intersectional risk profiles for Hispanic sexual minority youth, which can help elucidate heterogenous groups of HSMY who share common identity markers to help inform the prevention of depressive symptoms and drug use among this population and help close the gap on pervasive health disparities.