Gender-Sexuality Alliances as a moderator of the association between victimization, depressive symptoms, and drinking behavior among LGBTQ+ youth

Gender Sexuality Alliances and School Safety: Who Benefits Most, and Do Additive School-Led Practices Strengthen the Link?

While Gender and Sexuality Alliances (GSAs) are associated with higher acceptance of sexual diversity and lower bullying-victimization, it is unclear which individual and school-level attributes strengthen these associations. Nationally representative data (N = 1,567 students; Mage = 15.4, SD = 0.16; 34% boys, 66% girls, 51% heterosexual, 49% sexually-diverse after propensity score matching) in 139 Dutch secondary schools were used. Multilevel regression analyses revealed that GSA presence was linked to more inclusive attitudes about sexual diversity and a safer disclosure climate among sexually-diverse students, and lower general bullying-victimization when the school had a GSA combined with school practices to tackle bullying. School professionals and researchers are recommended to recognize the significance of individual and school-level factors that affect GSA correlates.

Sexual Minority Youth Reporting SOGIE-Based Harassment to Adults at School: The Roles of Experienced Harassment, Outness, Safety, and Adult Support at School

Despite a proliferation of bullying prevention programs in recent time, limited work has investigated support-seeking behaviors in response to elevated bullying levels among sexual minority youth (SMY). To address this gap, the current study examined how harassment targeting SOGIE (sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression), sexual identity outness, school safety, and perceptions of teacher/staff support were associated with SMY talking to an adult at school about harassment. A large contemporary national sample of SMY (N = 5538) between the ages 13-18 (Mage = 15.53, SD = 1.33) who experienced at least one form of SOGIE-based harassment in the past year was leveraged for analyses. Hierarchical multivariable logistic regressions revealed more frequent SOGIE-based harassment was associated with greater odds of reporting harassment to school personnel, particularly among SMY who felt safe at school. Findings highlight the need for school-based interventions to foster school safety among SMY who experience peer harassment to promote their reporting of this behavior.

Achieving Health Equity for Sexual and Gender-Diverse Youth

Compared to their heterosexual and cisgender peers, sexual and gender diverse (SGD) youth, especially those from minoritized racial/ethnic groups, experience significant disparities in health, health care, and social conditions that can threaten their health and well-being. This article describes the disparities impacting SGD youth, their differential exposure to the stigma and discrimination that foster these disparities, and the protective factors that can mitigate or disrupt the impact of these exposures. On the final point, the article specifically focuses on pediatric providers and inclusive, affirming, medical homes as critical protective factors for SGD youth and their families.

Mental and Physical Health Disparities Among Sexual and Gender Minority Adolescents Based on Disability Status

Purpose: Sexual and gender minority (SGM) youth and youth with disabilities both experience health disparities. Little data exist on whether SGM youth with disabilities have worse health outcomes compared with SGM youth without disabilities. This study aimed to examine differences in health behaviors and outcomes among a sample of SGM youth by different types of disabilities. Methods: Secondary analyses were conducted with a subset (N = 9418) of the LGBTQ National Teen Survey, a comprehensive survey of risk and protective factors and health outcomes of SGM youth across the United States collected in 2017. Multiple types of disabilities (physical, cognitive, or psychiatric) and mental, behavioral, and physical health outcomes were self-reported. Results: Of the sample, 18.3% reported a disability. Significant findings included higher odds of exercise avoidance, greater depressive symptoms and sleep concerns, and lower self-esteem and overall health ratings among SGM youth who reported any form of disability compared with SGM youth who reported no disability. Youth with cognitive disabilities had lower odds of alcohol use than youth with no disability. Youth with psychiatric disabilities had higher odds of cannabis and cigarette use, and lower physical activity than youth with no disability. Youth with either psychiatric or physical disabilities reported higher body mass index than youth with no disability. Conclusion: SGM youth with disabilities experience greater health disparities than SGM youth with no reported disabilities. Results provide groundwork evidence about the impact of disability status on SGM adolescents. Disability-inclusive or -specific frameworks are needed for future interventions and studies of SGM youth.