Intersecting Identities Among Hispanic Sexual Minority Youth and Their Relationship With Substance Use and Depressive Symptoms.

PURPOSE: The literature on risk and protective factors for substance use and depression among Hispanic sexual minority youth (HSMY) has largely focused on individual risk and/or protective factors and not how the minoritization of intersecting identity markers may be linked to these outcomes among HSMY. The purpose of this study was to identify intersectional profiles by conducting a latent class analysis of sexual orientation, acculturation, time in the United States, and language and evaluate how class membership is associated with substance use and depressive symptoms.

METHODS

This secondary data analysis included 974 Hispanic adolescent participants between the ages of 12 and 18 years (24.4% HSMY). We first conducted a latent class analysis of indicators of baseline sexual orientation, acculturation, time in the United States, country of origin, and language preference to identify participant classes. We then evaluated whether there were differences across classes in relation to past 90-day substance use and depressive symptoms at follow-up.

RESULTS

A four-class solution was optimal: (1) English-speaking, integrated, US-born, non-sexual minority youth, (2) Spanish-speaking, separated, non-US-born, non-sexual minority youth, (3) English-speaking, culturally marginalized, US-born, HSMY, and (4) Spanish-speaking, culturally marginalized, non-US-born, HSMY. There were significant differences across classes on past 90-day substance use. Notably, class 3 was more likely to report substance use and depressive symptoms.

DISCUSSION: We identified distinct profiles of Hispanic youth with varying identity markers and found significant differences in substance use and depressive symptoms across classes. Results suggest that there is a need for tailored preventive interventions to address the unique needs of these groups.