Dr. Andrea N. Polonijo, Assistant Professor of Sociology at UC Merced, has published a new peer-reviewed article examining long-term mental health and suicidality trends among East Asian adolescents in Canada, with a focus on disparities by sexual orientation.
The article, “Trends and Disparities in Mental Health and Suicidality by Sexual Orientation Among East Asian Adolescents in Canada, 1998–2023,” co-authored with Ace Chan and Elizabeth M. Saewyc, analyzes 25 years of data from the British Columbia Adolescent Health Survey. Drawing on data from more than 26,000 East Asian adolescents, the study examines trends in extreme stress, hopelessness, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts.
While some mental health indicators improved over time among heterosexual East Asian adolescents, the study finds persistent—and in some cases widening—disparities for sexual minority youth. In 2023, lesbian, gay, and bisexual East Asian adolescents had nearly two to five times higher odds of experiencing all adverse mental health outcomes compared to their heterosexual peers, with especially concerning increases in hopelessness and suicidal ideation among sexual minority girls.
The findings highlight the need for culturally responsive and inclusive mental health supports for sexual minority East Asian youth.
The full article is available through the Journal of Adolescent Health.
