Excess Burdens and Mental Health Consequences of Physical Violence Victimization Among Sexual Minority Adolescents and Young Adults in Colombia and Honduras: A Pooled Population-Based Study

Abstract

Few studies have quantified burdens and psychological impacts of physical violence victimization among sexual minority adolescents and young adults (AYAs) in Central and South America—where AYAs experience among the highest rates of violence victimization globally. Accordingly, data from two population-based household surveys implemented in Colombia and Honduras between 2017 and 2018 were pooled to characterize disparities and mental health sequelae of physical violence victimization among AYAs aged 13 to 24 years by sexual minority status. Framed by minority stress theory, sex-stratified weighted multivariable logistic regression with linearized variance correction determined if (a) sexual minority AYAs exhibited elevated odds of lifetime physical violence victimization by various perpetrators; and (b) violence-exposed sexual minority AYAs reported worse mental health outcomes than their heterosexual counterparts. In the pooled sample of 10,414 AYAs (mean age: 18.3 years; 50% female), 2% reported same-sex attraction and/or sexual behavior. Sexual minority AYAs experienced significantly elevated burdens of physical violence victimization by parents/caregivers or adult relatives (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.86, 95% confidence interval [CI] [1.09, 3.16], p < .022) compared to heterosexual AYAs. Among violence-experienced AYAs (n = 3,774), sexual minority AYAs were significantly more likely than heterosexual AYAs to report self-harming behaviors (aOR = 3.36, 95% CI [1.71, 6.61], p < .001), suicidal ideation (aOR = 3.43, [1.63, 7.24], p = .001), and attempted suicide (aOR = 2.79, [1.21, 6.44], p = .017). This study provides evidence of excess burdens and mental health consequences of physical violence victimization among sexual minority AYAs in Colombia and Honduras, suggesting supportive services (i.e., acute post-violence care, longer-term mental health services) must be adequately prioritized and tailored to sexual minority survivors of violence.