A recent study conducted by Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health has found, among other things, that younger (age 18-44) gay, lesbian and bisexual men and women experience fewer mental disorders and are less likely to have attempted suicide than their counterparts in the 45-59 age group. As Dr. Ilan Meyer, Associate Professor of Clinical Sociomedical Sciences and principal investigator of the study notes,
The finding regarding younger cohorts of lesbians, gay men, and bisexuals is consistent with social stress theories that predicted that the liberalization of social attitudes toward homosexuality over the past few decades can lead to a decline in stress and related mental disorders and suicide among lesbians, gay men, and bisexual individuals.
While no single study is likely to present the final world on any given topic, this latest survey appears to hammer yet another nail in the coffin of the myth (common in evangelical and ex-gay circles) that same-sex attractions are, in and of themselves, a major contributor to mental illness even among openly gay individuals.
Hat tip: Andrew Sullivan
Don’t worry. I’m sure the ex-gay crowd will be able to spin the study their way.
For example–“Here’s proof that Alan Chambers was right when he said, ‘What I found was that homosexuality was for the young.'”
Don’t worry. I’m sure the ex-gay crowd will be able to spin the study their way.
I’m sure you are right. For example, they could point to the fact that black gays experienced less mental heath problems than white gays and say, “see, prejudice does not lead to mental health issues or black gays would demonstrate more mental health problems instead of less”.
I wonder what the comparable mental health picture is for the same age cohorts in the general population.
In my own experience (myself, family, and friends), it was in early middle age–mid-30s into the 40s–when almost everyone I knew suddenly started seeing a therapist and/or popping anti-depressants. The stresses of life and unresolved issues from the past seemed to catch up with people at that point.
Those were not gay people. I was still ex-gay at that time. My shrink-seeing, pill-popping acquaintances were overwhelmingly heterosexual, married with kids, and deeply religious.
Now, in my 50s, I find acquaintances my age, whether gay or straight, to be less introspective and more accepting of themselves. It’s not that we’re free of problems, by any means. But I think you learn to deal with certain issues, accept that life isn’t perfect, and move on.
The findings of this study seem to indicate something different from that. (I’m shocked! How could the world not conform to my point of view?) So, again, that leaves me curious to know how the older gay group studied here compares to same age group in the general population.
Are any of you EXW readers up on similar mental health studies?