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The Relationship Between Identity-Based Social Support, Victimization, and Mental Health among LGBTQ+ Youth
Zoë Mermin1, Natalie M Gallagher1, Kristina Olson1
1Department of Psychology, Princeton University, USA.
Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity
|March 9, 2026
Summary
Identity-based social support benefits LGBTQ+ youth mental health, while victimization harms it. However, support did not buffer victimization
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Public Health
Background:
- Social support and peer victimization significantly impact LGBTQ+ youth mental health.
- Existing research often lacks sufficient representation of transgender youth and focuses on general, not identity-based, social support.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the associations between identity-based social support, peer victimization, and mental health (anxiety, depression, positive affect) in LGBTQ+ youth.
- To investigate these relationships longitudinally in a sample with a high proportion of transgender youth.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses were conducted on a sample of 351 LGBTQ+ youth (ages 12-17), with 81% identifying as transgender.
- A subset of 142 participants completed measures twice over approximately 1.5 years to assess longitudinal changes.
Main Results:
- Identity-based social support was associated with improved mental health outcomes.
- Identity-based victimization was linked to poorer mental health.
- No buffering effect was found; social support did not mitigate the negative impact of victimization on mental health.
Conclusions:
- Identity-based social support and victimization are crucial factors influencing the well-being of LGBTQ+ youth.
- Findings underscore the importance of understanding identity-specific experiences for LGBTQ+ youth mental health interventions.
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