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

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.

[1]  A. Beautrais,et al.  Is sexual orientation related to mental health problems and suicidality in young people? , 1999, Archives of general psychiatry.

[2]  Steven M. Hubbard,et al.  Parent' Reactions to Transgender Youth' Gender Nonconforming Expression and Identity , 2005 .

[3]  Paul R Duberstein,et al.  Sexual orientation and risk factors for suicidal ideation and suicide attempts among adolescents and young adults. , 2007, American journal of public health.

[4]  L. Szalacha.  Safer Sexual Diversity Climates: Lessons Learned from an Evaluation of Massachusetts Safe Schools Program for Gay and Lesbian Students , 2003, American Journal of Education.

[5]  J. Ma,et al.  Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse in a Gay/Lesbian Population:: Related to Victimization? , 2008 .

[6]  L. Derogatis.  Brief Symptom Inventory , 2011 .

[7]  A. D’augelli.  Mental Health Problems among Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Youths Ages 14 to 21 , 2002 .

[8]  D. Templer,et al.  Comparative Data of Childhood and Adolescence Molestation in Heterosexual and Homosexual Persons , 2001, Archives of sexual behavior.

[9]  E. Losina,et al.  Childhood Sexual Abuse Among Homosexual Men: Prevalence and Association with Unsafe Sex , 1997, Journal of General Internal Medicine.

[10]  B. Thombs,et al.  Suicidal ideation and attempt among adolescents reporting "unsure" sexual identity or heterosexual identity plus same-sex attraction or behavior: forgotten groups? , 2010, Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

[11]  I. Meyer.  Minority stress and mental health in gay men. , 1995, Journal of health and social behavior.

[12]  R. Campbell,et al.  Working with youth on LGBT issues: why Gay–Straight Alliance advisors become involved , 2009 .

[13]  M. Rosario,et al.  Gay-related stress and emotional distress among gay, lesbian, and bisexual youths: a longitudinal examination. , 2002, Journal of consulting and clinical psychology.

[14]  L. H. Pelton,et al.  Child abuse and neglect: the myth of classlessness. , 1978, The American journal of orthopsychiatry.

[15]  K. Cranston,et al.  Correlates of same-sex sexual behavior in a random sample of Massachusetts high school students. , 1998, American journal of public health.

[16]  N. E. Walls,et al.  Gay—Straight Alliances and School Experiences of Sexual Minority Youth , 2010 .

[17]  A. Driscoll,et al.  Adolescent same-sex romantic attractions and relationships: implications for substance use and abuse. , 2002, American journal of public health.

[18]  S T Russell,et al.  Adolescent sexual orientation and suicide risk: evidence from a national study. , 2001, American journal of public health.

[19]  Kevin M King,et al.  Sexual orientation and adolescent substance use: a meta-analysis and methodological review. , 2008, Addiction.

[20]  Neal A. Palmer,et al.  The 2011 National School Climate Survey: The Experiences of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Youth in Our Nation's Schools. , 2010 .

[21]  S. Hershberger,et al.  Suicidality patterns and sexual orientation-related factors among lesbian, gay, and bisexual youths. , 2001, Suicide & life-threatening behavior.

[22]  Tina Fetner,et al.  Gay-Straight Alliances in High Schools , 2008 .

[23]  Jstor.  Journal of health & social behavior , 1967 .

[24]  A. Hansen.  School-based support for GLBT students: A review of three levels of research , 2007 .

[25]  Johanna Wyn,et al.  Youth and Society , 2004 .

[26]  Camille G Lee.  The Impact of Belonging to a High School Gay/Straight Alliance , 2002 .

[27]  O. Aasland,et al.  Development of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT): WHO Collaborative Project on Early Detection of Persons with Harmful Alcohol Consumption--II. , 1993, Addiction.

[28]  B. West,et al.  Sexual orientation, substance use behaviors and substance dependence in the United States. , 2009, Addiction.

[29]  R. Fassinger,et al.  Measuring Dimensions of Lesbian and Gay Male Experience , 2000 .

[30]  R. Zimmerman,et al.  Associations among sexual attraction status, school belonging, and alcohol and marijuana use in rural high school students. , 2003, Journal of adolescence.

[31]  Heather L. Corliss,et al.  Reports of parental maltreatment during childhood in a United States population-based survey of homosexual, bisexual, and heterosexual adults. , 2002, Child abuse & neglect.

[32]  C. Ryan,et al.  Family Rejection as a Predictor of Negative Health Outcomes in White and Latino Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Young Adults , 2009, Pediatrics.

[33]  M. Rosario,et al.  Predictors of substance use over time among gay, lesbian, and bisexual youths: an examination of three hypotheses. , 2004, Addictive behaviors.

[34]  D. Olweus.  Bullying at school: basic facts and effects of a school based intervention program. , 1994, Journal of child psychology and psychiatry, and allied disciplines.

[35]  J. Ginzler,et al.  Challenges faced by homeless sexual minorities: comparison of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender homeless adolescents with their heterosexual counterparts. , 2002, American journal of public health.

[36]  E. Rothblum,et al.  Victimization over the life span: a comparison of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and heterosexual siblings. , 2005, Journal of consulting and clinical psychology.

[37]  Marc A Schuckit,et al.  Alcohol-use disorders , 2009, The Lancet.

[38]  J. Talbott.  State-Level Policies and Psychiatric Morbidity In Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Populations , 2011 .

[39]  K. Varjas,et al.  Content-Specific Strategies to Advocate for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Youth: An Exploratory Study. , 2009 .

[40]  M. Rosario,et al.  A model of sexual risk behaviors among young gay and bisexual men: longitudinal associations of mental health, substance abuse, sexual abuse, and the coming-out process. , 2006, AIDS education and prevention : official publication of the International Society for AIDS Education.

[41]  Yongwen Jiang,et al.  Adolescent suicide and health risk behaviors: Rhode Island's 2007 Youth Risk Behavior Survey. , 2010, American journal of preventive medicine.

[42]  T. Hughes,et al.  Dimensions of sexual orientation and the prevalence of mood and anxiety disorders in the United States. , 2010, American journal of public health.

[43]  Daniel E. Bontempo,et al.  Effects of at-school victimization and sexual orientation on lesbian, gay, or bisexual youths' health risk behavior. , 2002, The Journal of adolescent health : official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine.

[44]  L. Pearlman,et al.  Sexual Abuse in Lesbian and Bisexual Young Women: Associations with Emotional/Behavioral Difficulties, Feelings About Sexuality, and the “Coming Out” Process , 2003, Journal of lesbian studies.

[45]  A. Beck,et al.  Comparison of Beck Depression Inventories -IA and -II in psychiatric outpatients. , 1996, Journal of personality assessment.

[46]  Michael T. Starks,et al.  Childhood Gender Atypicality, Victimization, and PTSD Among Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Youth , 2006, Journal of interpersonal violence.

[47]  E. Saewyc,et al.  Sexual orientation, sexual abuse, and HIV-risk behaviors among adolescents in the Pacific Northwest. , 2006, American journal of public health.

[48]  S. Hershberger,et al.  Incidence and Mental Health Impact of Sexual Orientation Victimization of Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Youths in High School , 2002 .

[49]  John R. Walker,et al.  Health risk behaviors and mental health problems as mediators of the relationship between childhood abuse and adult health. , 2009, American journal of public health.

[50]  J. Crippa,et al.  Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT): an updated systematic review of psychometric properties , 2009 .

[51]  Charles R. Anderson,et al.  School Climate for Transgender Youth: A Mixed Method Investigation of Student Experiences and School Responses , 2010, Journal of youth and adolescence.

[52]  M. Newcomb,et al.  Development and validation of a brief screening version of the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire. , 2003, Child abuse & neglect.

[53]  T. Hughes,et al.  Drinking and drinking-related problems among heterosexual and sexual minority women. , 2008, Journal of studies on alcohol and drugs.

[54]  Molly Carnes,et al.  Long-term physical and mental health consequences of childhood physical abuse: results from a large population-based sample of men and women. , 2007, Child abuse & neglect.

[55]  Jennifer Connolly,et al.  Peer Victimization, Social Support, and Psychosocial Adjustment of Sexual Minority Adolescents , 2005 .

[56]  B. Needham,et al.  Sexual Orientation, Parental Support, and Health During the Transition to Young Adulthood , 2010, Journal of youth and adolescence.

[57]  K. Jordan.  Substance Abuse Among Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning Adolescents , 2000 .

[58]  C. Goodenow,et al.  School support groups, other school factors, and the safety of sexual minority adolescents , 2006 .

[59]  S. Austin,et al.  Sexual orientation and drug use in a longitudinal cohort study of U.S. adolescents. , 2010, Addictive behaviors.

[60]  M. Resnick,et al.  Hazards of stigma: the sexual and physical abuse of gay, lesbian, and bisexual adolescents in the United States and Canada. , 2006, Child welfare.

[61]  A. D’augelli,et al.  Transgender youth and life-threatening behaviors. , 2007, Suicide & life-threatening behavior.