Session: Risk and Protective Factors Related to Mental Health and Academic Outcomes for Sexual Minority Adolescents (Society for Prevention Research 21st Annual Meeting)

SESSION INTRODUCTION: Although significant attention has been paid to health risk factors for sexual minority adolescents (including harassment, victimization, and violence, substance use, homelessness, and child abuse), the literature investigating protective factors is sparse (Institute of Medicine, 2011). Some recent research focused on prevention, found that support from families, schools, and peers can lead to healthy development for sexual minority adolescents (Russell, Kosciw, Horn, & Saewyc, 2010; Eisenberg & Resnick, 2006; Goodenow, Szalzcha, & Westheimer, 2006).  This symposium adds to the prevention literature by examining ways that social, familial, and school support systems can serve as protective factors for this population of adolescents.

The first paper, “Modifiable Risk and Protective Factors to Bullying Victimization and Mental Health and Academic Problems among a Community-Based Sample of Sexual Minority Youths,” explored the associations between four types (verbal, relational, electronic, and physical) of bullying victimization and mental health and academic problems. Next, associations between modifiable risk and protective factors on bullying victimization and mental health and academic problems were discussed.  Higher frequencies of bullying harassment were associated with negative outcomes but peer and parental support had protective effects on grades and psychological distress.

The second paper, “Does Teacher Intervention Moderate the Effects of Harassment at School?”, used logistic regression models to explore the interrelationships between skipping school because of feeling unsafe (dependent variable), harassment, teacher intervention, and sexual orientation based on data from the Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Results indicated that, compared to straight youth, Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual (LGB) adolescents were more likely to skip school because of a concern for their safety. Teacher intervention did not moderate the effect of harassment on skipping school due to safety concerns for either group of adolescents.

The third paper, “Suicide Prevention among LGB Adolescents: The Role of Schools,” reviewed of the literature to identify theorized protective factors for suicide.  Logistic regression was used to analyze data from a statewide survey of risk and protective factors related to suicide for a subgroup of LGB adolescents.  Findings indicated that connection to school was significantly associated with reduced suicidal ideation.

The conclusion of the presentation will include a moderated discussion with conference attendees and presenters related to increasing protective factors and improving interventions designed to support the needs of sexual minority adolescents.