For the first time in the world, research has established a predictive link between specific negative family reactions to their childs sexual orientation and serious health problems for these adolescents in young adulthood, such as depression, illegal drug use, risk for HIV infection and suicide attempts, said Caitlin Ryan, lead author and researcher of the study titled, Family Rejection as a Predictor of Negative Health Outcomes in White and Latino Gay and Bisexual Young Adults.

Ryan conducted the study, called the Family Acceptance Project, with a team of researchers at the Cesar E. Chavez Institute at San Francisco State University. Their findings will be published in the January 2009 issue of the journal Pediatrics.

One of the major findings of Ryans research is that Latino males reported the highest number of negative family reactions to their sexual orientation in adolescence. Such a response could take the form of religious beliefs that being gay is sinful, or a belief that their childs homosexuality is a medical or psychological condition that can be cured.

It was poignant to see how adolescents felt rejected when their parents tried to change the childrens sexual identity or gender expression, she said.

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