Out at Home: Family Guide to Supporting Teen Sexual Orientation
Sexual orientation can be hard to talk about. Many people find it confusing and potentially complex. For many parents, it’s especially uncomfortable to talk about sexuality with their kids, but small steps go a long way. The team at SARAVYC has designed a resource for East Asian parents as part of our research in tracking […]
The LGBTQ Supportive Environments Inventory: Methods for quantifying supportive environments for LGBTQ youths
Abstract The social environment in which lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) youths live influences health and well-being. We describe the development of the LGBTQ Supportive Environments Inventory (LGBTQ SEI), designed to quantify the LGBTQ-inclusiveness of social environments in the United States and Canada. We quantify aspects of the social environment including: (1) presence/quality […]
“It makes such a difference”: A examination of how LGBTQ youth talk about personal gender pronouns across North America
ABSTRACT Background and purpose: The World Health Organization has developed standards for youth-friendly health services to support adolescents and encourage health care utilization among youth. Necessary building blocks for youth-friendly care include strong interpersonal relationships between youth and health care providers. Nurse practitioners (NPs) may be particularly well positioned to form these relationships. This study […]
Worsening Perceptions of Family Connectedness and Parent Support for Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Adolescents
Abstract Objectives Lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) adolescents often report compromised relations with their families. Given the recent changes in societal attitudes toward LGB individuals, in respect to rights for marriage and other legal statuses, we explore whether or not there has been a change in how LGB and heterosexual adolescents perceive their family relations […]
Supportive families and schools help prevent substance use among transgender youth
Trans youth in Canada face high levels of violence, and this can contribute to substance use. However, research at SARAVYC showed that even when transgender youth experience high levels of violence or discrimination, a supportive family and safe school can make a difference. Specifically, strong family and school connections are helping prevent transgender youth from […]
Supporting the Health of LGBTQ2S Youth in Canada
The federal government invited briefings regarding the health of LGBTQ2S+ Canadians. As a research centre dedicating to improving health equity among stigmatized and vulnerable youth, we recognized this as a vital opportunity to contribute our expertise and draw attention to the specific needs of LGBTQ2S+ youth in Canada.
Primary care access and foregone care: a survey of transgender adolescents and young adults
Abstract Objective: To examine the issues of primary care access and foregone health care among transgender adolescents and young adults. This cross-sectional analysis of data from the Canadian Trans Youth Health Survey was conducted online during 2013–2014. Participants included 923 youth aged 14–25 (323 adolescents aged 14–18 and 600 young adults aged 19–25). Main outcome […]
Substance Use among Sexual Minorities: Has it Actually Gotten Better?
Abstract Despite efforts to decrease substance use, rates among sexual minority youth (SMY) remain higher than among heterosexuals. Substance use is a leading contributor to morbidity and mortality in adulthood, and SMY’s use of substances is related to poorer mental and emotional health. We sought to document the trends in substance use for a large […]
A Media-Based School Intervention to Reduce Sexual Orientation Prejudice and Its Relationship to Discrimination, Bullying, and the Mental Health of Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Adolescents in Western Canada: A Population-Based Evaluation
Abstract School interventions to address sexual orientation discrimination can be important tools for fostering inclusive school climate, and improving student wellbeing. In this study, we empirically evaluated a film-based intervention, Out in Schools, designed to reduce sexual orientation prejudice and foster inclusive school attitudes. Our evaluation mapped data about Out in Schools presentations onto student […]
LGBTQ+ Students in Alberta: 12 Evidence-Based Facts
This fact sheet presents research findings about 2SLGBTQIA+ youth and their cisgender and heterosexual peers in Alberta, Canada, and beyond.
