Substance use disorder disproportionately affects sexual and gender minority (SGM) youth compared to their heterosexual and cisgender peers, a disparity which is driven by unique stressors and systemic inequities. This systematic review synthesizes 122 empirical studies to explore the factors contributing to elevated rates of substance use among SGM youth and to identify gaps in existing prevention and intervention efforts. Findings reveal significant disparities, with SGM youth experiencing heightened vulnerability due to stressors such as expectations of rejection, interpersonal and structural discrimination, familial rejection, and other challenges of navigating a heteronormative world. These challenges are compounded by individual-level covariates including race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status, which are often overlooked in existing research. A key finding is the paradox of community. While SGM-affirming spaces provide essential support, they are often closely associated with substance use. Despite sparse availability of targeted interventions, existing studies underscore the necessity of culturally relevant affirming approaches that address the unique needs of this population. Recommendations for youth, schools, practitioners, and families are provided, emphasizing the importance of fostering inclusive environments, reducing stigma, and building pathways to resilience and mental health. This review highlights an urgent call to action to address these disparities through innovative and inclusive prevention and intervention strategies.  

Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by social-communication differences and restricted, repetitive behaviors (American Psychological Association, 2013). While racial disparities in autism prevalence have been documented, not much research has examined how these differences appear in autism screening measures. This study investigates racial differences in Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ) scores among non-autistic Asian and White adults to assess potential biases in autism screening. Using data from three NIH-funded studies (COBRA, BEAM, and The Korean Study), AQ scores from 166 participants (n=102 White, n=64 Asian) will be analyzed through t-tests and Repeated Measures Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) to compare total and subscale scores. Preliminary observation suggests that non-autistic Asian participants may be more likely to score higher on the AQ, raising concerns about false positives in autism screenings. Understanding these differences will help improve diagnostic accuracy, reduce disparities, and promote equitable access to neurodevelopmental resources.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental disorder characterized by impairments on socialization and communication skills. Research shows that socialization for neurotypical (NT) individuals can be exhausting- depending on personality traits, desire to conform to social settings, and similarly their social skills. When compared to neurotypical individuals, autistic individuals tend to experience socialization withdrawls to a higher degree leading to irritability and lethargy in behavior. This study aims to look at the relationship between socialization, irritability and lethargy. 399 participants (ASD 280) aged 6-11 years from the NIH funded Autism Biomarkers Consortium for Clinical Trials (ABCCT) were included in the analysis. Parents of participants completed questionnaires based on behaviors they observed in their child within the past 6 months using the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS-2) and Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC) measure. Within the SRS-2, the t-scores from the Social Communication, Social Cognition, and Social Motivation scores will be used. We will divide these scores into high and low socialization, cognition, and motivation based on clinical cutoff. Scores on irritability and lethargy will be derived from ABC measure. Analysis of Variance (ANOVAs) will be run to look at the differences in lethargy and irritability scores based on high/low socialization. We expect to see individuals with higher communication, motivation and socialization skills to have lower scores of lethargy and irritability. We also expect to see scores within the SRS-2 and ABC measures to be lower for autistic individuals. This study will help us gain a better understanding of the emotional and autonomic effects socialization can have on autistic individuals.