Lesbian Youth Research Articles

Marriage Expectations Among Different Groups of Gender and Sexual Minority Youth in the United States

Objective The study aims to analyze marriage expectations among sexual minority youth in the United States. Background The possibility of marriage for same-sex couples is recent in the United States. As same-sex couples used to be excluded from getting married, LGB adults have expressed concerns about the institution of marriage and have been less likely than their heterosexual peers to consider it for themselves. However, research is lacking when considering marriage expectations and attitudes regarding marriage among LGBTQ youth. Method We use wave 2 of the SOGI-Q Health Study, a community sample of 542 LGBTQ youth aged 15–21 collected in 2013, a time prior to federal marriage equality. We assessed measured marriage expectations, both to a same-sex partner and to a different-sex partner, as well as attitudes regarding marriage. Results Results indicated that gay and lesbian youth were more likely than queer and bisexual youth to expect to get married to a same-sex partner. Individual factors (e.g., higher levels of disclosure to family members) and structural factors (e.g., knowing a married same-sex couple), were associated with higher marriage expectations to a same-sex partner. Religiosity was associated with higher expectations of marriage to a different-sex partner. Conclusion Sexual identity, religiosity, disclosure, and knowing married same-sex couples were significantly associated with LGBTQ youths’ expectations to marry a same-sex and/or different-sex partner, as well as their attitudes about marriage more broadly. Implications Attitudes and expectations regarding marriage among sexual minority youth have implications for their future couple and family formation, which are broadly associated with well-being across the adult lifespan.

Minority stress and mental health in gay and lesbian youth: A comparative study of Italy and Spain.

The present study was carried out based on the minority stress model. The purpose was to compare Italian and Spanish gay and lesbian youth on minority stressors and mental health outcomes and test the minority stress model in Italy and Spain. The sample consisted of 490 participants (307 Italians, Mage = 25.30 and 183 Spanish, Mage = 27.57). They completed an online questionnaire measuring everyday discrimination, coming out to family members, coming out to friends/one's social network, internalized sexual stigma, depression, and anxiety. A multivariate analysis of covariance was performed to explore the effect of nationality on all measures. Structural equation modeling was applied to test the direct and indirect (through internalized sexual stigma) effects of stressors on mental health outcomes. The results demonstrate an impact of nationality on three dimensions: Spanish youth presented higher levels of everyday discrimination, while Italian youth had lower levels of both coming out to family members and coming out to friends/one's social network. Further, in both countries, all stressors had both direct and indirect (through internalized sexual stigma) associations with depression and anxiety. These findings have some social implications: studying the effect of nationality can be useful in suggesting changes in political and social macrosystems. Additionally, studying the associations among these variables is helpful for intervening more efficiently, for example, clinically, on the impact of minority stress. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Sexual Diversity Bullying and Cyberbullying Questionnaires: An Inclusive Approach to Measure Sexuality-Based Bullying

ABSTRACT LGBTQ+ bullying is a specific type of stigma-based bullying with a high prevalence among LGBTQ+ people. However, instruments to assess this phenomenon are scarce and focus on homophobic aggressions, and the motivations therefor, mainly in relation to gay and lesbian youths. In this study, we introduce and validate an instrument to assess LGBTQ+ bullying. The instrument covers general and specific aggressions, as well as dimensions of sexuality besides sexual orientation such as gender identity and expression, as a more comprehensive approach to understand the phenomenon. The study included 2,552 adolescents (MAge = 14.54, SD = 1.76) from 13 Andalusian public secondary schools. Regarding gender identity, 43.9% of participants were cisgender boys, 53.5% were cisgender girls, and 2.6% were trans-binary and non-binary gender youths. In terms of sexual orientation, 81.1% of participants were heterosexual students, 2.4% lesbian/gay, 11.2% bisexual/pansexual, 4.4% questioning, and 0.9% asexual. Second-order models for bullying and cyberbullying had a good fit. Moreover, invariance was seen for bullying [ΔCFI = -.003] and cyberbullying [ΔCFI = .003] victimization measures. Furthermore, there was a sexual diversity bias: cisgender heterosexual students were more likely to perpetrate LGBTQ+ aggressions, and LGBTQ+ students were more likely to be targets of general and specific aggressions.

Dating Violence Perpetration Among Sexual Minority Youths in the US: Exploring the Effects of Masculinity Ideology

This study analyzes two waves of survey data from a prospective cohort study of secondary school students in Midwestern United States and shows that masculinity ideology contributes in varying degrees to dating violence perpetration across different gender and sexual orientation groups. Conformity to masculinity ideology not only elevates physical violence among bisexual male and lesbian youths, but also does it to a greater extent than its effect among heterosexual male youths. Gay youths, on the other than hand, report lower levels of physical violence perpetration with higher conformity to masculinity ideology. Conformity to masculinity ideology also precipitates higher levels of sexual violence perpetration among bisexual male and lesbian youths. Several policy implications for dating violence prevention are discussed.

Vulnerabilities and strengths of Lesbian and Homosexual Mexican Adolescents to dating violence

This paper explores dating violence among same-sex adolescent couples and compares the prevalence’s of the different expressions of this violence (emotional, physical, and sexual) between heterosexual couples and same-sex couples. Additionally, we identify those characteristics of homosexual adolescents that reduce or increase their vulnerability to dating violence, examining the role played by various elements of empowerment, such as self-esteem, agency, gender role attitudes, social power, and adolescent sexual power. Descriptive analysis as well as bivariate and multivariate logistic regression models were developed using data from the Survey on Dating, Empowerment and Sexual and Reproductive Health in Adolescent in High School in Mexico (ENESSAEP 2014 in Spanish), a survey representative of three Mexican states in México: Morelos, Jalisco and Puebla. The findings confirm that the prevalence’s of the three types of dating violence (emotional, physical, and sexual) are significantly higher for adolescents with same-sex partners than for heterosexual adolescents. The experiences of emotional violence received and witnessed at home are more frequent in the lives of gay and lesbian adolescents, and these experiences in turn show significant and larger associations with the risk of all three types of dating violence for them. Except for sexual empowerment, most indicators of empowerment showed significant and negative associations with the risk of the three types of dating violence for heterosexual adolescents, and in some cases for gay or lesbian youths too. It is necessary further research on the role of adolescent's empowerment as a relevant process to prevent dating violence and to provide young people with key resources to identify and deal with violent relationships, and particularly in the case of youth from the sexual diversity groups.

Is Trauma Exposure More Harmful for Sexual Minority Youth? Differences in Trauma-Suicide Associations in a Nationally Representative Sample of U.S. Youth and Implications for Suicide Prevention.

Lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) youth experience disproportionately high rates of suicidality and exposure to traumatic events, such as sexual violence and teen dating violence. Rates of suicidality and exposure to traumatic events also vary by sexual minority subgroup. The purpose of this study was to: (1) explore the impact of LGB identity on the relationship between violence exposure and suicide; and (2) to examine variations by sexual identity. A subsample of respondents who reported on their sexual identity in the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (n = 14,690) was used to examine if the associations between sexual and dating violence with suicide outcomes (suicidal ideation, planning, and suicide attempt) depended on the sexual identity of the respondent. Logistic regression models were fitted with an interaction effect to quantify heterogeneity of associations across identity strata. Overall interaction tests mostly indicated heterogeneity of associations between sexual violence and physical dating violence. Several contrast of strata associations suggested substantive probability differences between sexual minority respondents and their heterosexual peers. While exposure to violence was broadly associated with increased probability of experiencing any type of suicidality, LGB and questioning youth were significantly more likely to experience suicidality compared to their heterosexual peers. Gay and lesbian youth demonstrated the strongest probability of experiencing suicidal thoughts and behaviors among survivors of sexual violence, while bisexual youth may be more at risk following dating violence. Implications for future research and suicide prevention are discussed.

Learning through practice: Conceptualizing the demands of queer-inclusive teaching

The scholarly conversation on preparing teachers to organize safer, more humanizing learning environments for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ+) youth generally does not intersect with conversations unfolding in the broader teacher education literature, specifically around what practice means in learning to teach. In this article, I bridge that divide by reporting on a case study designed to investigate how one kindergarten teacher enacted queer-inclusive practice. By queer-inclusive practice, I mean to capture two pedagogical goals: (1) including LGBTQ + topics in curricula and (2) moving beyond inclusion by disrupting normativity. Grounded in the assumption that teaching is uncertain and complex work, I draw on queer and anti-oppressive theories to conceptualize demands as a generative lens for investigating what teachers negotiate during enactments of queer-inclusive practice. Bringing that lens to bear in this study animated the unpredictability of what pedagogical efforts to disrupt commonsense will do to learners and learners’ desires to learn in ways that repeat what they already know. I conclude that the lens of demands frames pedagogical challenges that arise when teachers enact disruptive, justice-oriented practices as a productive problem space for teachers and teacher educators to navigate.

Associations between sexual orientation, sex education curriculum, and exposure to affirming/disaffirming LGB content in two US-based cohorts of adolescents

ABSTRACT Sexual health education experienced by lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) youth varies widely in relevancy and representation. However, associations among sexual orientation, type of sex education, and exposure to affirming or disaffirming content have yet to be examined. Understanding these patterns can help to address gaps in LGB-sensitive sex education. Our goal in this study was to examine the prevalence and associations among abstinence-only until marriage (AOUM) and comprehensive sex education with LGB-affirming and -disaffirming content sought/received before age 18 (from 1999 to 2014) by sexual orientation (completely heterosexual with same-sex contact, completely heterosexual with no same-sex contact, mostly heterosexual, bisexual, gay/lesbian) in a sample of 12,876 US young adults from the Growing Up Today Study. Compared to completely heterosexual referents, LGB participants who received AOUM sex education were more likely to encounter LGB-disaffirming content, and this effect was largest among sexual minority participants. Conversely, exposure to comprehensive sex education was associated with receipt of LGB-affirming information. Overall, participants commonly reported receiving AOUM sex education, which may lead to deficits and potential harm to sexual minorities.

Suicidal ideation and self-injury in LGB youth: a longitudinal study from urban Switzerland

BackgroundAdolescent suicidality, suicidal ideation (SUI) and self-harming behaviour (SI) are major public health issues. One group of adolescents known to be particularly prone to suicidality and mental health problems is lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) youth. Although the social acceptance of the LGB community has increased in recent years, LGB individuals are still at risk of mental health issues and suicidal behaviour. More longitudinal research looking into the associations between sexual orientation (SO) and facets of mental health across adolescence is warranted.MethodsThis research examined associations between sexual orientation, suicidal ideation and self-injury at 15, 17 and 20 years of age in a community-based sample of 1108 Swiss adolescents (51.1% females/48.9% males). At the age of 15 years, participants provided information regarding their SUI and SI. At 17 and 20 years of age, participants also reported their SO.ResultsTwelve percent of the female participants and 4.4% of the male participants reported identifying as LGB at 17 and 20 years of age. Self-reports of bi- or same-sex attraction increased over time in both genders, with the increase being more pronounced in females. LGB adolescents of both genders showed significantly higher percentages of SUI and SI at the ages of 17 and 20 years than their heterosexual peers.ConclusionsThe findings confirm a higher risk of SUI and SI in adolescents who identify as LGB. Future studies should develop interventions targeting mental health from early adolescence with the aim of reducing disparities related to SO.

Psychological Impact on Family of Transgender and Non-Conforming (TGNC) Children in Alex Gino’s “George” (Novel)

The paper is an attempt to contemplate the youth’s emotional, mental, romantic, and sexual orientation and its psychological influence on the members of the family. In novel, there is a discussion about sexual orientation, preferences for the minority individuals are somewhat or merely focused on the same sex. Writers like Christopher Isherwood, Evelyn Waugh, James Baldwin, Mary Renault have provided us with illuminating experience in their prose style on issues related to LGPTQ. The paper has accentuated the repertoire of qualitative literary review analysis, including qualitative data on the experience of parents of TGNC children. The paper delves with the dilemma of identification of one’s own sex and sense of self worth. The study focuses on the implications for transgender, gay, bisexual and lesbian youth and their family members’ psychological health and well being. Parental rejection and acceptance is the main concern. The importance of parents in the lives of youth is unassailable beginning with the birth of the child and affecting all relationships. Family Communication is an indispensable component when we talk about accepting and disclosing our hidden existence and feelings in front of our family member, whether parents or siblings. The main objective of the paper is to conceptualise the reactions of parents to the disclosure of their child’s identity, when one has been in disguise, ranging from acceptance to rejection: What are the consequences? How are they going to react? How are they going to manage stress level? How are they going to balance and maintain equality between the child and other children? Will they be able to appreciate their child’s heroism and endurance for revealing his/her true identity?

“INTO NJE – IT’S JUST A THING…”: BEING A LESBIAN IN A RURAL AREA

The South African Constitution prohibits discrimination against individuals on the basis of their sexual orientation, yet the experiences of lesbians across various contexts is different. A thematic analysis of 10 in-depth qualitative interviews with lesbian students from rural areas expands the limited knowledge base on this issue. Although these students are studying in an urban area, this article explores the experience of lesbians in rural areas in the light of the prevailing discourses on homosexuality. The findings revealed that due to certain religious and traditional beliefs, lesbianism continues to be perceived by many, for example, as “just a thing”, unnatural, a passing phase, an embarrassment and a sin. These prevailing constructions often deterred lesbian youths from being themselves, thus forcing them to manage multiple identities between rural and urban contexts. Social workers as well as other human rights advocates should, through their research and practice, aim to make communities aware of human rights discourses that promote affirmation, safety and support for the LGBTQI population in rural areas. Keywords: lesbian, rural, urban, culture, religion

Exposure to tobacco and e-cigarette advertisements by sexual identity status among high school students

IntroductionThe literature on tobacco advertising among sexual minorities is relatively scarce. This study examined the association between exposure to tobacco products and e-cigarettes advertisements and sexual identity. MethodsData were from the 2020 National Youth Tobacco Survey (n = 7223). The prevalence of exposure to tobacco marketing through various channels was estimated among high school students and by sexual identity subgroups. Multivariable logistic regressions were used to examine the association between sexual identity status and exposure to tobacco and e-cigarette advertisements. ResultsThe proportion of sexual minority adolescents who reported exposure to tobacco and e-cigarette advertisements was higher than heterosexuals. In multivariable analysis, gay or lesbian youth (aOR 1.45, 95% CI, 1.04–2.02) had higher odds of any exposure to tobacco and e-cigarette advertisement than heterosexuals. Regarding the channel of advertisement exposure, sexual minorities were more likely to be exposed via newspapers/magazines for cigarettes or other tobacco products. Likewise, gay or lesbian youth and those not sure about their sexual identity had higher odds of exposure via newspapers/magazines for e-cigarettes. Analysis stratified by sex showed significant differences, with gay or lesbian males more likely to be exposed to any tobacco and e-cigarette advertisements via the internet, newspapers/magazines, and TV/streaming services. Males not sure about their sexual identity are more likely to be exposed to tobacco and e-cigarette advertisements via newspapers/magazines. ConclusionsOverall, sexual minority adolescents had high exposure to tobacco products and e-cigarette advertisements, especially males. Prevention and intervention efforts targeting this population could help reduce the well-established tobacco use disparities.

Treatment Recommendations and Barriers to Care for Suicidal LGBTQ Youth: A Quality Improvement Study

ABSTRACT Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer or Questioning (LGBTQ) youth are at elevated risk for suicide. Despite this, there is limited information on how to optimize care for suicidal LGBTQ youth. Qualitative interviews were conducted with LGBTQ youth with a history of mental health treatment to identify treatment recommendations and barriers to care for this vulnerable population through the lens of a quality improvement approach. Individual qualitative interviews (n=20) and focus groups (n=21 participants) were conducted. Key findings included the critical role of receiving emotional support from caregivers related to LGBTQ identity, youth’s concern about whether it was safe to share LGBTQ identity with a mental health provider due to uncertainty about how this information would be received, the use of self-report measures early in care for self-disclosure, using clear symbols such as the rainbow pride flag indicating support for the LGBTQ community, and the importance of confidentiality in terms of both suicidality and LGBTQ identity. Youth also described being unaware of existing mental health resources designed for LGBTQ youth and emphasized the importance of educating youth directly on the availability of these resources. These findings underscore the importance of attending to the role of the family in supporting suicidal LGBTQ youth and designing clinic spaces where these youth feel comfortable seeking services. This study is one of the first to elicit direct feedback from LGBTQ youth themselves to inform quality improvement of suicide-prevention care for this population.

LGB prevalence in schools is associated with unhealthy weight-control behaviors in lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth: a multilevel analysis

BackgroundPrevious studies have found that a school climate of more heteronormativity is associated with adverse effects on the mental health of LGB students. Accordingly, our aim was to assess the association between lower LGB prevalence in schools and unhealthy weight-control behaviors among LGB youth.MethodsA cross-sectional, multilevel study based in public high schools in the city of Olinda, Northeast Brazil. A multilevel logistic regression was performed, including 2500 adolescents enrolled in 27 schools. The contextual variable was the prevalence of LGB youth in each school (as a proxy for heteronormativity in schools), while the outcome was unhealthy weight-control behaviors (fasting, purging, and taking diet pills). We controlled for socioeconomic characteristics (age, sex, receiving a family allowance), obesity, and self-reported happiness.ResultsLower LGB prevalence in schools was associated with higher odds of engaging in unhealthy weight-control behaviors (OR: 1.5, 95%CI: 1.0, 2.2) among all youth, regardless of sexual orientation. No cross-level interactions between school context and individual characteristics were statistically significant.ConclusionLower LGB prevalence in schools was associated with a higher risk of unhealthy weight-control behaviors in youth regardless of sexual orientation, which may reflect either the contextual influence of school climate, or may be due to residual confounding.

Distributive Justice as a Means of Combating Systemic Racism in Healthcare

Distributive Justice as a Means of Combating Systemic Racism in Healthcare

Supporting LGBT+ People Experiencing Hate: Perspectives from LGBT+ Youth and Community Workers

Based on data taken from lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT+) youth and community workers, this article highlights the occupational stressors experienced by LGBT+ professionals who provide emotional support to service users and theorises the potential for vicarious victimisation to occur as a result. Research suggests that the emotional harms of ‘hate’ can indirectly victimise those with a shared identity as the primary victim, through emotional contagion. However, little research has been carried out on those who support victims of hate. I theorise that vicarious victimisation may occur where an individual, who shares the primary victim’s identity, takes on their experiences through a therapeutic relationship as a negative consequence of the emotional labour performed.

LGBTPQ Youth Negotiating Access to Sexual Health Education and Resources in a Rural South African University

ABSTRACT This article draws on sexual citizenship theory to analyze how some lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, pansexual and queer (LGBTPQ) youth in a low socio-economic rural South African context negotiate access to inclusive sexual health education programmes and resources. Participants are students aged 19 to 32 years old at a South African university. Using in-depth individual interviews, participants reflected on their experiences of sexual health education when they were still at school. The findings show the continuing silencing of sexual health issues concerning LGBTPQ youth in South African schools. Disadvantaged by the lack of sexual health education programmes in schools, findings show how the students sought LGBTPQ centered knowledge through self-study and other ways to empower themselves with information on sexual health matters. Participants also reflected on accessing the student health clinic at the university where they are students. Accessing condoms, lubricants, dental dams and HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) remains a challenge. Implications suggest ways of improving the provision of LGBTPQ inclusive sexual health education programmes and resources in poor rural contexts in South Africa.

Creating Safe Schools for LGBTQIA+ Displaced Migrant Youth: A Journey Towards Anti-Oppressive Pedagogy

According to research, abuse and harassment of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender/transsexual, two-spirit, queer/questioning, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQIA+) youth in US-based schools continues to rise despite the media’s attention. Although often grouped under one community, the LGBTQIA+ community is vastly diverse. As a result of laws that persecute individuals based on sexual orientation and gender identity, LGBTQIA+ displaced migrant youth are among the world’s most vulnerable populations. Post-migration stressors such as marginalization, isolation, oppression, and microaggressions by staff and students against LGBTQIA+ displaced migrant youth in schools, will be discussed. This article proposes queer theory and intersectionality theory as frameworks to inform the implementation of anti-oppressive, school-based practices in support of LGBTQIA+ displaced migrant students under the age of 21. A case composite example illustrating the experiences of a displaced migrant student identifying as a gay male is included. The role of school administrators, policy landscape, professional development, and reform to education curricula will be addressed as factors that may have significant influence in the development of anti-oppressive and safe schools.

Supplemental Material for Changes in Disclosure Stress and Depression Symptoms in a Sample of Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Youth

Supplemental Material for Changes in Disclosure Stress and Depression Symptoms in a Sample of Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Youth

Inclusive policy development in a community-based alternative education program serving LGBT youth

Alternative education programs can prevent disparities in academic outcomes among marginalized youth. This descriptive study examines the results of an alternative education program with nondiscrimination policies and staff training related to supporting the inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youth. Secondary analysis of demographic, psychosocial, academic, and grade level data for participants (N = 232) was completed. The study included analysis of data describing participant and program characteristics, and an assessment of the program's impact on student outcomes. Findings indicate that LGBT youth perform equally well as compared to non-LGBT counterparts and excel even while entering the program with a psychosocial history that differs from their peers. This study offers a framework for replication to other community-based alternative education programs supporting LGBT youth.