Research shows that parental acceptance can serve as a protective factor against negative mental health outcomes among LGBTQ+ youth. Although a few studies have examined the role of critical consciousness in mental health outcomes among LGBTQ+ youth, findings are often inconsistent and do not provide a clear picture. Thus, the present study aims to fill this knowledge gap. Using a sample of LGBTQ+ youth aged 18–25 (N = 460), the present study explores the relationship between critical consciousness, mental health outcomes (depression, anxiety, and flourishing), and the buffering role of parental support using bivariate correlations and moderated regression analyses. Findings show that (1) higher critical consciousness was associated with lower flourishing, (2) higher parental acceptance was associated with lower depressive and anxiety symptoms and greater flourishing, and (3) parental acceptance did not moderate the relationships between critical consciousness and mental health outcomes. The results of this study illustrate that while parental acceptance is a positive factor for mental health outcomes among LGBTQ+ youth, different dimensions of critical consciousness may have varying effects on mental health well-being for this population. Implications for research, clinical practice, and advocacy, such as examining peer support and community healing, are discussed in relation to these findings.

This study aims to explore the associations between multiple psychosocial resources at the individual-level (personal resilience) and at the family and community levels (social support from significant other, social support from family, social support from friends, and caregiver acceptance) and two mental health outcomes (psychological well-being and posttraumatic stress disorder [PTSD] symptoms) among 460 ( M _age = 21.6 years) lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and queer (LGBTQ+) young adults. Personal resilience was the resource most strongly associated with both outcomes. Moreover, higher social support from significant others and from friends were related with higher well-being. Higher social support from family was associated with decreased PTSD symptoms. Findings indicate that different sources of social support are differentially associated with mental health outcomes, with support from one’s significant other and friends being more closely linked with well-being and support from family with PTSD symptoms. Furthermore, findings point to the importance of mental health providers incorporating various psychosocial resources when working with LGBTQ+ young adults.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer emerging adults' exposure to various forms of discrimination and systemic oppression increases their risk for negative mental health outcomes. Yet, access to factors that promote resilience contribute to positive mental health outcomes. Most research that incorporates individual-level and interpersonal-level resilience factors uses variable-centered approaches, which assume homogeneity and average effects that may obscure different patterns of resilience. To address this gap, in a sample of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer emerging adults (N = 460), this study used a person-centered approach (i.e., latent profile analysis) and multiple regressions to examine differences in three mental health outcomes (i.e., psychological well-being, depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms) on one individual-level (i.e., personal resilience) and two family/community-level (i.e., caregiver acceptance, social support) psychosocial resources. A five-profile solution emerged: (1) high intrapersonal and interpersonal strengths; (2) low intrapersonal and interpersonal strengths; (3) accepted by caregivers, moderately resilient, and socially supported; (4) accepted by caregivers and moderately resilient, but not socially supported; and (5) not accepted by caregivers but moderately resilient and socially supported. Findings show that the probability of belonging to the profile with high resources was associated with lower depression and anxiety symptoms, as well as higher psychological well-being. Furthermore, social support was associated with well-being above and beyond personal resilience and caregiver acceptance. Last, caregiver acceptance was linked with lower depression and anxiety symptoms, above and beyond personal resilience and social support. Results highlight the complex interplay between resilience factors and mental health outcomes among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer emerging adults. We discuss implications for theory, practice, and advocacy. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).