Document Type
Article
Publication Title
Child Development
Publication Date
2-2015
ISSN
0009-3920
Page Number
176
Keywords
gay-straight alliances, health disparities, discrimination, lower academic achievement
Disciplines
Civil Rights and Discrimination | Health Law and Policy | Law
Abstract
Gay-straight alliances (GSAs) may promote resilience. Yet, what GSA components predict well-being? Among 146 youth and advisors in 13 GSAs (58% lesbian, gay, bisexual, or questioning; 64% White; 38% received free/reduced-cost lunch), student (demographics, victimization, attendance frequency, leadership, support, control), advisor (years served, training, control), and contextual factors (overall support or advocacy, outside support for the GSA) that predicted purpose, mastery, and self-esteem were tested. In multilevel models, GSA support predicted all outcomes. Racial/ethnic minority youth reported greater well-being, yet lower support. Youth in GSAs whose advisors served longer and perceived more control and were in more supportive school contexts reported healthier outcomes. GSA advocacy also predicted purpose. Ethnographic notes elucidated complex associations and variability as to how GSAs operated.
Recommended Citation
Matthew P. Shaw,
Contextualizing Gay‐Straight Alliances: Student, Advisor and Structural Factors Related to Positive Youth Development among Members, 86 Child Development. 176
(2015)
Available at: https://scholarship.law.vanderbilt.edu/faculty-publications/1323