Offsetting risks: High school gay-straight alliances and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youth.

Abstract

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youth are at risk for engaging in negative health behaviors and for experiencing at-school victimization. Specific benefits of attending a high school with a gay-straight alliance (GSA), including lower levels of suicidality, have been published; however, it is unclear whether GSAs are related to lower levels of problematic substance use, depressive symptoms, and psychological distress. Using a sample of 145 LGBT youth recruited from college and university organizations for LGBT students, we examined whether attending a high school with a GSA was related to more positive school experiences and mental health outcomes for LGBT youth. The results indicate that youth who attended a high school with a GSA report significantly more favorable outcomes related to school experiences, alcohol use, and psychological distress. The implications of the findings are discussed as they relate to school psychologists. Important limitations of this study are reviewed.

Discrimination and Depressive Symptoms Among Sexual Minority Youth: Is Gay-Affirming Religious Affiliation a Protective Factor?

“…Participants’ scores were calculated based on a composite of six items (e.g., loss of interest, loneliness, suicidal ideation) that used a 5-point Likert scale (0 = not at all, 4 = extremely) to assess one’s level of depressive symptoms during the past 7 days. Similar to its use in other studies (Heck, Flentje, & Cochran, 2011; Mustanski, Newcomb, & Garofalo, 2011), the scale had strong internal reliability with our sample (sexual minorities α = .87; heterosexuals α = .86).…”

Risk and Protective Factors for Substance Use Among Sexual and Gender Minority Youth: a Scoping Review

“…Bullying [25, 57, 58, 24], perceived homophobia [39], low self-esteem [67], gender-expression-based discrimination [60], stigmatizing school policies [27], and lack of Gay-Straight Alliances [87] were associated with higher drug use. Cannabis, cocaine, methamphetamine, opioid, prescription medication, and injection drug use were associated with perceived school safety [24], bullying [25], sexual violence victimization [24], and neighborhood-level rates of anti-SGM hate crimes [56].…”

Associations between LGBTQ-affirmative school climate and adolescent drinking behaviors

“…We also tested whether sexual orientation modified the effects of LGBTQ school climate on alcohol use, and estimated the effects of LGBTQ-affirmative school climate on alcohol use for each sexual-orientation subgroup separately. Based on prior research (Corliss et al, 2008; Goodenow et al, 2006; Heck et al, 2011; Konishi et al, 2013; Kosciw et al, 2012, 2014; Marshal et al, 2008; Poteat et al, 2013; Seil et al, 2014; Talley et al, 2014), we hypothesized: gay/lesbian adolescents, bisexual adolescents, and adolescents unsure of their sexual orientation (henceforth, “unsure adolescents”) would report more frequent drinking than heterosexual adolescents; and living in jurisdictions with more versus less affirmative LGBTQ school climates would be associated with less frequent drinking for all sexual orientations. This investigation extends previous research by analyzing data that is generalizable to adolescents from several jurisdictions in the United States to examine the effects of a more holistic measure of LGBTQ school climate on drinking behaviors for specific sexual-orientation subgroups.…”

“…Studies have linked alcohol use with two aspects of LGBTQ school climate: the presence of gay-straight alliances (GSAs) and anti-bullying policies that enumerate sexual orientation as a protected demographic (Heck et al, 2011; Konishi et al, 2013; Poteat et al, 2013). Generally, GSAs are student clubs comprised of LGBTQ students and their heterosexual allies who work together to cultivate safe and supportive environments for students of all sexual orientations and gender identities/expressions.…”