Explaining behavioral health differences in urban and rural sexual minority adolescents: A longitudinal investigation of minority stress in a diverse national sample of sexual minority adolescents: A longitudinal investigation of minority stress in a diverse national sample of sexual minority adolescents.

SMA in our study who reside in rural areas reported elevated minority stress, depressive, and PTSD symptoms as compared to their urban dwelling peers. Our study found that lifetime experiences of minority stress fully mediated the relationship between urbanicity and both depressive and PTSD symptoms, and partially mediated the relationship between urbanicity and anxiety. These findings highlight the need to increase support for rural youth who are growing into adulthood and may find continuing challenges in their family, peer, and community relationships.