The relationship of gay -related developmental stress to problems in living in college -age men

The purpose of this research was to examine the relationship between the stress associated with growing up gay in our culture and the following variables: depression; history of psychiatric treatment; history of suicidality; alcohol and substance use/abuse; and attitudes toward homosexuality. It was predicted that higher levels of gay-related developmental stress would be a predictor of higher levels of depression, mental health treatment involvement, a history of suicidality, higher levels of substance use/abuse, and more negative attitudes toward homosexuality.;Participants in this study were 469 gay, predominantly White, young men who were recruited primarily from Boston area college campuses. Instruments used were the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), the CAGE alcoholism screening index, the Gay-Related Developmental Stress Scale (GDS), and the Fisher Scale (attitudes toward homosexuality). History of psychiatric treatment, history of suicidality, and patterns of alcohol and substance use were assessed from responses to questions which were specifically developed for the purposes of this research.;Significant relationships were found between gay-related developmental stress and both alcohol dependence history and depression. Results of stepwise linear regression analyses indicated that depression and problem drinking or potential alcohol dependence, were predictors of gay-related developmental stress; a history of suicidal thoughts, low acceptance of homosexuality, a high degree of gay-related developmental stress, and a history of psychiatric treatment were predictors of depression; and that a history of psychiatric hospitalization, more frequent alcohol use, gay-related developmental stress, and depression were predictors of a history of problem drinking. In addition, rates of depression, and a history of problem drinking or alcohol dependence were strikingly higher in this sample than within the general population.;It was concluded that stressors associated with growing up gay in our culture contribute to psychosocial problems that develop in young gay men. Implications for prevention, treatment and further research are explored.