Rather than assessing characteristics that distinguish sexual minorities from their heterosexual peers, this research instead examines the numerous psychological processes that these groups share. For example, researchers studying disparities in rates of suicide would evaluate whether general psychological processes associated with suicidal behavior in heterosexuals (e.g., substance use, depression, social support, family functioning) also predict increases in suicidal behavior among sexual minority youth. Factors that are unique to LGB status (e.g., age of awareness of homoerotic attractions, internalized homophobia) are rarely included in this approach. The principal proponents of general psychological processes have produced a line of research on the relationship between these processes and developmental trajectories of LGB adolescents, such as peer/romantic relationships (Diamond, 2003; Diamond et al., 1999). Other researchers have applied the study of general psychological processes to specific classes of psychopathology and risk behaviors in within-group analyses of sexual minorities (Savin- Williams & Ream, 2003; Rosario, Rotheram-Borus, & Reid, 1996).
