Abstract
Sexual minority youth in military families have a unique set of stressors that affect
their mental, emotional, and physical health. There is a pronounced gap in data addressing
the specific stressors of this population and how they interact to impact the health
of the adolescent. The culture of the United States military has historically been
heterosexist and homophobic, propelled primarily by policies that restricted the recruitment
and service of lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender individuals, leading to a continued
secrecy around sexual orientation that may affect how sexual minority youth within
the community view themselves. Homophobia, social stigma, and victimization lead to
significant health disparities among sexual minority youth, and youth connected to
the military have additional stressors as a result of frequent moves, parental deployment,
and general military culture. Primary care providers must be aware of these stressors
to provide a safe environment, thorough screening, and competent care for these adolescents.
Key Words
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Biography
Ashley N. Gyura, PNP-PC Student, School of Nursing, Columbia University, New York, NY.
Biography
Sabrina Opiola McCauley, Assistant Professor of Nursing, School of Nursing, Columbia University, New York, NY.
Article info
Publication history
Published online: November 17, 2015
Footnotes
Conflicts of interest: None to report.
Identification
Copyright
Copyright © 2015 by the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
