Community | July 27, 2010 | 53 comments

Teen same-sex relationships increase self-esteem, says study - PinkPaper.com

source: http://news.pinkpaper.com/NewsStory.aspx?id=3522

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toyotabedzrock
A study by the University of Michigan suggests that teen same-sex relationships boost self esteem and lower internalised homophobia.

Opposite-sex relationships were not found to have the same effect.

Jose Bauermeister, assistant professor at the University's School of Public Health claims: "Dating in adolescence is critical to developing sexual and social identities.

"It's even more salient for gay, lesbian and bisexual youth because there is such a stigma attached to their sexual orientation," he continued.

Researchers worked with 350 gay, lesbian or bisexual teenagers from three New York-based queer drop-in centers, assessing over two years symptoms of depression and anxiety in the participants.

Titled "Relationship trajectories and psychological well-being among sexual minority youth," the paper will appear in the August edition of journal Youth and Adolescence.

Bauermeister, the overseer of the SOPH Sexuality and Health Lab, added: "Studies have shown that these teens may suffer more psychological distress, victimisation, physical threats and violence than heterosexual youth.

"Gay, lesbian and bisexual teens who conceal their sexuality, often have a lower self-image or internalised sense of homophobia - which can lead to depression and anxiety."

"I actually expected to see more associations between psychological distress and having an opposite-sex partner. But there was no association with self-esteem, depression or anxiety. The literature seems to suggest that creating a bond with a partner may be protective. However, we found having an opposite-sex partner is not protective, but it's not harmful either."
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53 comments // Teen same-sex relationships increase self-esteem, says study - PinkPaper.com

  • starmazzola
  • ayashe
    • +1
      ayashe  

    • Well, it's nice that teen same-sex relationships boost self esteem, but they do it for lesbian, gay, and bisexual teens. I don't like the way it seems to suggest that it's better for everyone to be in same-sex relationships. I KNOW IT DOES NOT SAY THAT so don't bother to reply, I said "it seems to suggest," which it does. If a person is gay or bi, that's fine, if a person is straight, that's fine, everyone should just be true to themselves. No orientation is better than the others.

    • 1 year ago
  • G30RJE
    • +2
      G30RJE  

    • For people saying this is obvious, did you even read the article? Its not stating that people in relationships are happier just because they're in a relationship. Or that people have higher self esteem because they're with someone they like.

      Its saying that same sex couples get a boost of self esteem not seen in parallel with opposite sex couples. No where does it say that either type of couple is happier in general.

      "It's even more salient for gay, lesbian and bisexual youth because there is such a stigma attached to their sexual orientation,"

      When it comes down to it homosexuality is not as accepted as heterosexuality. When some people get into same sex relationships they gain a sense of acceptance of their sexuality and like stated above a "lowered internalized homophobia".

      I have yet to hear about a hetero couple accepting their heterosexuality when starting a relationship. Yes they may feel better about it, but nothing in terms of accepting something that they felt wasn't right; seeing as how hetero is the *norm (most widely accepted)

    • 1 year ago
  • toyotabedzrock
  • ezrierin
    • 0
      ezrierin  

    • I suppose you have to run a hypothesis through scientific method in ordinate to prove your point measurably in the real world. But I feel like this is a no brainier. I want to know where I can get a grant to study the obvious? Then I could do all my research in Tahiti or something. LOL!

    • 1 year ago
  • TheEmpireGuy
    • +2
      TheEmpireGuy  
    • ezrierin:

      "Study of the effects of unabashed relaxation and laziness on the human psyche"
      "Hypothesis: If one relaxes and is lazy in tahiti for 'X' amount of time then the effects on psyche will be horrifific"
      "Results: Hypothesis proven incorrect. Must reformulate experiment and continue for several more weeks. Possibly months. Who knows..."

      Im gonna need like a couple million dollars in grants for this...maybe more...any takers ready to fund my vacation, err...i mean "study"?

    • 1 year ago
  • toyotabedzrock
  • bike10
  • Almibry
  • MrMxyzptlk
  • TheEmpireGuy
  • CalgarC
  • Einsam_Data_Old
  • YakovFox
  • ThoughtNu
    • -1
      ThoughtNu  
    • CalgarC:

      ...da helpful happy hetro in me thinks, first we need to develop a structure for the proper flow of information about this study and who will be doing the study , what expectations or theories the study will focus on, like studies; along with a projected timetable of developing studies...such as, 'genus - homo erect-us : female : express humor threw a ritual known as 'marriage'....'

    • 1 year ago
  • TheEmpireGuy
    • +1
      TheEmpireGuy  

    • Alrighty then. My question is, does this really matter?

      Personally, i think when we talk about this kind of thing, where we say," Oh, look! This certain group is happier, or, this certain other group has higher self esteem. Maybe this other group does this better or has more of that." Or, what have you. My point is that when we do that, we tend to imply, intended or not, a sense of superiority of whatever group we are referring to over other groups, which I don't think is right

      So, if we say same-sex couples have higher self-esteem than, maybe, heterosexual couples, and in doing that we are trying to imply that superiority, which just isn't right. I honestly could care less what you do personally, who you sleep with, or who you marry, and I do want equality in those aspects, but I don't want to take a u-turn and possibly begin condemning heterosexuals for being an opposite-sex couple.
      And I am not saying that that is happening here, but if we keep up with this sort of superiority thinking, it might come to that.

      I think freedom among all groups, race, orientation, etc, is what will allow equality among them. No one group gets power, or position, or precedence.
      I have said before that no one ever deserved anything because of their race, good or bad. Well, the same goes for a persons orientation.

    • 1 year ago
  • toyotabedzrock
    • +2
      toyotabedzrock  
    • TheEmpireGuy:

      Many parents freak out and prevent there children from contacting their same sex Boyfriend/Girlfriend. It is damaging and in some cases leads to suicide.

      Some parents send there children out of the country to an ex-gay organization where they are sometimes abused and are not required to follow US laws.

    • 1 year ago
  • CalgarC
  • Almibry
  • freecrack
  • CalgarC
  • TheEmpireGuy
    • -1
      TheEmpireGuy  
    • CalgarC:

      Exactly. Which begs the question, is it because they were homosexual that their psychological stability was greater, or was it simply because they were with someone they like?
      Take me, for instance. I am a heterosexual male and I'm in an absolutely wonderful relationship and I couldn't be happier!
      I honestly don't think sexual orientation had much to do with it, beyond the possibility that maybe homosexuals tended to have slightly better relationships overall in this study.

    • 1 year ago
  • CalgarC
  • SamuraiDave
    • -5
      SamuraiDave  

    • this report was just put together to help gays get more dates in high school. Kind of a long the line of that "something" is a good beauty facial cream - "honest gosh! scientists said so, baby!"

    • 1 year ago
  • RaceBannon
  • Idoknow19
    • +6
      Idoknow19  

    • Yes, but how do teen same-sex relationships affect the self-esteem of extreme-right religious conservatives?

      See that's where the damage is done.

    • 1 year ago
  • andreii
  • Nephwrack
  • EmperorThan
    • +4
      EmperorThan  

    • Can't wait to see Stephen Colbert find this article and take on a new "same sex life partner/self esteem increaser" friend hahaha

    • 1 year ago
  • toyotabedzrock
  • freecrack
    • -2
      freecrack  

    • is it that same sex relationships increase self esteem from a median point, or does it provide happiness in ones aquasition of the thing that they are persecuted for desiring.
      one could also say wieght loss builds self esteem, it wouldnt mean fatness in and of itself causes low self esteem as it is our judgements that do.
      speaking of wich anorexia clinics everywhere thank you cosmo for your influence. keep up the good work in your airbrushing department.

    • 1 year ago
  • toyotabedzrock
  • Einsam_Data_Old
  • freecrack
    • +1
      freecrack  
    • Image
    • toyotabedzrock:

      thats my point, its like the military taking something like 27 million dollars to conclude the frisbee has no military applications.it really isnt that involved a process to figure this stuff out, it shouldnt take a study to show treating people like shit,regardless of reason why, is hurtfull, and companionship in the face of that is beneficial.i mean these are basic concepts we all know, just some choose to ignore.a study is like placating the hatefull.

    • 1 year ago
  • freecrack
    • 0
      freecrack  
    • Einsam_Data_Old:

      it has absolutely nothing to do with the content of the comment but who the author is.i can post i love puppies and democracy, and it will get voted down.but id bet any amount of money after a certain someone is booted, that will cease to occur.

      hey are like running an avatar farm?or just fickle?
      you should work with jj, as he needs avatars as frequently as you change yours.

    • 1 year ago
  • Einsam_Data_Old
  • freecrack
    • 0
      freecrack  
    • Einsam_Data_Old:

      he has started to have avatars that are logos of his screen name, so i think he does.i mean when he was on here (like im one to talk) he would be here all day, so i imagine he has the time available to manufacture avatars.if only he would go all out and full out gimmick the names.like andy kaufman used to do, just to play with us.like one name is a parody of sgt slaughter, another is a jewish nebish, another a rush limbaugh knock off.if your gunna get booted as often as he does might as well test run personalities.

    • 1 year ago
  • Pollo_Loco_
    • +5
      Pollo_Loco_  

    • In a related story, the inexistence of a relationship of any kind lowers self-esteem. And decreases the number of times I shave my legs in a week.

    • 1 year ago
  • TheEmpireGuy
  • cztheday
  • Pollo_Loco_
  • cztheday
    • +2
      cztheday  
    • Pollo_Loco_:

      Obviously, I only have your screen icon to go by -- and I don't want to come off all stalker-ish with a side of creepy -- but yeah, if that is your picture I find it hard to believe that you have any difficulty finding guys who want to date you. Now finding guys who are worthy of your time...that is a whole different matter...

    • 1 year ago
  • Pollo_Loco_
  • Sw3rv
    • -10
      Sw3rv  

    • nothing against gays and lesbians but continued support for this lifestyle is a clear indication that the gay and lesbian lifestyle coincides with population control...just my 2 cents

    • 1 year ago
  • freecrack
  • toyotabedzrock
  • Pollo_Loco_
  • freecrack
  • randallr01
  • randallr01
  • toyotabedzrock
  • TheEmpireGuy
    • -1
      TheEmpireGuy  
    • toyotabedzrock:

      Though, not constant. As is my case. I think it is because they were with someone they like and that "likingness" happened more often with the homosexuals in the study as opposed to the heterosexuals.

      It would be interesting to see the results on a larger scale study of the same kind.

    • 1 year ago
  • timetide
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