Data from the 2022–2023 National Survey of Family Growth show a substantial association between sexual orientation and having lived with a parent or guardian experiencing mental-health problems. Respondents were asked whether, before age 18, they had lived with a parent or guardian who was depressed, mentally ill, or suicidal.
Among men who did not report this childhood experience, 92.1% identified as straight. The percentage was 81.6% among men who had lived with a parent experiencing mental-health problems—a difference of 10.5 percentage points. Gay identification increased from 2.5% to 5.5%, bisexual identification from 3.0% to 7.5%, and “something else” from 2.4% to 5.4%.
The difference was larger among women. Among women reporting no parental mental-health problems, 83.9% identified as straight, compared with 64.0% of those who had lived with an affected parent—a difference of 19.9 percentage points. Most notably, bisexual identification increased from 8.6% to 22.6%. Lesbian identification increased from 2.4% to 5.0%, while “something else” increased from 5.1% to 8.4%.
The unweighted analytic sample included 4,168 men and 5,271 women. Among men, the sample included 3,694 straight, 176 gay, 171 bisexual, and 127 “something else” respondents. Among women, it included 4,155 straight, 147 lesbian, 653 bisexual, and 316 “something else” respondents. The prevalence of reported parental mental-health problems differed significantly across orientation groups for both men, F(3,4164)=35.39, p<.001, η2=.025F(3,4164)=35.39,\ p<.001,\ \eta^2=.025, and women, F(3,5267)=80.89, p<.001, η2=.044F(3,5267)=80.89,\ p<.001,\ \eta^2=.044.
These percentages are weighted to produce national estimates. In exploratory logistic-regression analyses controlling for age and other childhood adversities, having lived with a mentally ill parent remained independently associated with lower odds of identifying as straight among both men and women. Emotional and sexual abuse also had significant independent relationships, while physical abuse and parental substance-use problems did not contribute uniquely after the overlapping childhood experiences were considered.
The results establish an association, not causation. They do not demonstrate that parental mental-health problems caused differences in sexual orientation, nor do they identify the mechanisms underlying the relationship. The childhood experiences were reported retrospectively, and the percentages shown in the chart are not adjusted for other demographic or family characteristics.
Source: 2022–2023 National Survey of Family Growth, National Center for Health Statistics. Weighted percentages calculated separately by respondent sex.
There are a lot of possible explanations for these findings. Parental mental illness is respondent self-report and reported retrospectively. Comments appreciated!
How was mental illness defined? Are there people who exist without any period(s) of mental health problems?
Respondents were asked, “Did you live with a parent/guardian who was depressed, mentally ill, or suicidal (before age 18)?”