Adolescents identifying as sexual minority found to be 3 times more likely to attempt suicide than heterosexual peers

Group of teens at gay pride parade

Three researchers affiliated with the Harvard Pop Center* are among the authors of a study in Pediatrics that looked at changes in US adolescent reported sexual orientation and suicide attempts by sexual orientation from 2009–2017. Authors on the study include: Julia Raifman, Brittany M. Charlton, Renata Arrington-Sanders, Philip A. Chan, Jack Rusley, Kenneth H. Mayer, Michael D. Stein, S. Bryn Austin and Margaret McConnell*. Photo: Seven Seas of Rhye on…

Study links supplements used by children and young adults for weight loss, energy and muscle building with almost 3x the health risk of vitamins

Head shot of Bryn Austin

S. Bryn Austin, ScD, is senior author on the study published in the Journal of Adolescent Health. Learn more in this new item by The Harvard Chan School. Other authors include: Flora Or, Sc.D., Yongjoo Kim, Sc.D., and Juliana Simms.

Are sexual minorities at a greater risk of experiencing stress?

Harvard Pop Center faculty member S. Bryn Austin, PhD, and Graduate Student Affiliate Brielle Bryan have authored a study that indicates that sexual minority women (lesbian and bisexual) physiologically experience more stress based on disparities in sympathetic nervous system biomarkers.

Self-perceived obesity/weight linked to increased cardiometabolic risks

A study by three faculty members—S. Bryn Austin, S V Subramanian, and Ichiro Kawachi—and their colleague found that Koreans who merely perceived themselves to be overweight or obese faced increased cardiometabolic risks, such as high blood pressure and elevated triglycerides.

State laws permitting denial of services to same-sex couples linked to significant increase in mental distress among sexual minority adults

S. Bryn Austin, ScD, is an author on a paper published in JAMA Psychiatry that has found that state laws permitting the denial of services to sexual minorities (currently, 12 states have such laws) was associated with a 46% increase in the proportion of sexual minority (defined as gay, lesbian, bisexual, or not sure of their sexual orientation) adults experiencing mental distress.

Does gender nonconformity impact quality of life for adolescents and young adults?

Three Harvard Pop Center faculty members—Nancy Krieger, Cassandra Okechukwu and S. Bryn Austin—are authors on a study published in the journal Quality of Life Research that finds that the health-related quality of life for youth who behave and appear in ways that are considered atypical for their gender is impacted in several different ways.