Emerging Ideas. Familial Influences, Shame, Guilt, and Depression Among Sexual Minority Adolescents

• Published date: 01 December 2021
• Author: Ethan H. Mereish,Diana J. Cox,Julia C. Harris,Quinn R. Anderson,David J. Hawthorne
• Date: 01 December 2021
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1111/fare.12514

E H. M, D J. C, J C. H,  Q R. AAmerican

University

D J. HUniversity of Maryland School of Public Health

Emerging Ideas.

Familial Inuences, Shame, Guilt, and Depression

Among Sexual Minority Adolescents

Objective: This study examined the mediating

effects of self-conscious emotions (i.e., shame

and guilt) on the relationships between familial

inuences and depressive symptoms among sex-

ual minority adolescents (SMAs).

Background: Familial inuences, such as

family rejection or parental afrmation, are

associated with depression. However, little

research has been conducted to identify specic

mechanisms that can explain the associations

between familial inuences and depressive

symptoms among SMAs.

Method: Participants were 94 adolescents,

aged 12 to 18 years, who wererecruited through

the community and completed self-report

measures.

Results: Family rejection was associated with

more feelings of shame and guilt, whereas par-

ent afrmation was associated with less shame

and guilt. Shame and guilt were associated with

more depressive symptoms. Indirect effects of

family rejection on depression were signicant

through shame but not guilt. Indirect effects of

Department of Health Studies, American University,

4400 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016

(mereish@american.edu).

KeyWords: depression, family rejection,guilt, parental afr-

mation, sexual minority adolescents, shame.

parental afrmation on depression were signi-

cant through shame and guilt.

Conclusion: The results help identify mecha-

nisms through which familial inuences may

be associated with depressive symptoms. Shame

and guilt are important modiable psychologi-

cal factors that can be targets of intervention for

SMAs.

Implications: Future research and interven-

tions must incorporate familial inuences as

well as self-conscious emotions to improve the

mental health of SMAs.

Sexual minority adolescents (SMAs) are at ele-

vated risk for depression compared with their

heterosexual counterparts (Marshal et al., 2011).

These disparities are alarming because experi-

encing depression in early development can lead

to negative health outcomes later in life (Russell

& Fish, 2016). For example, sexual minorities

who are exposed to early-life adversity specic

to their sexual orientation experience increased

rates of depression during adulthood (McLaugh-

lin et al., 2012).

The minority stress model is one of the

most prominent theoretical frameworks used

to explain sexual orientation disparities in

depression. This model posits that SMA expe-

rience unique stress (i.e., minority stress)

due to their marginalized minority identity

1546Family Relations 70 (December 2021): 1546–1555

DOI:10.1111/fare.12514