ERIC Number: EJ934217
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2011-Jun
Pages: 14
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1045-3830
EISSN: N/A
Offsetting Risks: High School Gay-Straight Alliances and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Youth
Heck, Nicholas C.; Flentje, Annesa; Cochran, Bryan N.
School Psychology Quarterly, v26 n2 p161-174 Jun 2011
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. (Contains 1 footnote and 3 tables.)
Descriptors: High Schools, School Psychologists, Health Behavior, Drinking, Homosexuality, Depression (Psychology), Educational Environment, High School Students, Social Attitudes, Social Justice, At Risk Students, Victims, Bullying, Suicide, Symptoms (Individual Disorders), College Students, Mental Health, Outcomes of Treatment, Sexual Orientation
American Psychological Association. Journals Department, 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242. Tel: 800-374-2721; Tel: 202-336-5510; Fax: 202-336-5502; e-mail: order@apa.org; Web site: http://www.apa.org/publications
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: High Schools; Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A