sexual orientation

Reducing homophobia in high school: The effects of “The Laramie Project” play and an integrated curriculum [abstract]

Purpose: Homophobic attitudes and resulting bullying have been linked to school and health problems for sexual minority youth, including suicide. While school-based policy and curricular interventions to reduce homophobia have been suggested, only correlational evidence has been published to date. This quasi-experimental longitudinal study examined the effects on homophobic attitudes in an urban high […]

Research on Adolescent Sexual Orientation: Development, Health Disparities, Stigma, and Resilience

Abstract The decade between 1998 and 2008 saw rapid increases in research on adolescent sexual orientation development and related health issues, both in the quantity and in the quality of studies. While much of the research originated in North America, studies from other countries also contributed to emerging understanding of developmental trajectories and social influences […]

Best Practices for Asking Questions about Sexual Orientation on Surveys

In 2003 the Ford Foundation began funding a multi-year project that sought to increase the quantity and quality of data on gay, lesbian, and bisexual people, and, by extension, on heterosexual people. Over a five-year period, many researchers participated in the expert panel funded by the grant, thus contributing to the knowledge embodied in this […]

Reducing problem substance use in Asian sexual minority and heterosexual youth [abstract]

Purpose: Youth who identify as lesbian, gay, or bisexual (LGB) are at greater risk of being stigmatized compared to heterosexual peers, and are also more likely to report substance use. This study examined the relationship between stigma and problem substance use for Asian LGB and heterosexual youth, generating probability profiles to investigate the role that […]

Protective Factors in the Lives of Bisexual Adolescents in North America

Abstract Objectives. We compared protective factors among bisexual adolescents with those of heterosexual, mostly heterosexual, and gay or lesbian adolescents. Methods. We analyzed 6 school-based surveys in Minnesota and British Columbia. Sexual orientation was measured by gender of sexual partners, attraction, or self-labeling. Protective factors included family connectedness, school connectedness, and religious involvement. General linear models, conducted […]

Out Yonder: Sexual-Minority Adolescents in Rural Communities in British Columbia

Abstract Objectives: We compared sexual-minority adolescents living in rural communities with their peers in urban areas in British Columbia, exploring differences in emotional health, victimization experiences, sexual behaviors, and substance use. Methods: We analyzed a population-based sample of self-identified lesbian, gay, or bisexual respondents from the British Columbia Adolescent Health Survey of 2003 (weighted n = 6905). […]

Stigma management? The links between enacted stigma and teen pregnancy trends among gay, lesbian, and bisexual students in British Columbia

Abstract Over the past decade, several large-scale school-based studies of adolescents in Canada and the U.S. have documented health disparities for lesbian, gay and bisexual teens compared to their heterosexual peers, such as higher rates of suicide attempts, homelessness, and substance use. Many of these disparities have been linked to “enacted stigma,” or the higher […]