Person-Environment Fit and Positive Youth Development in the Context of High School Gay-Straight Alliances

Abstract

Drawing from a person-environment fit framework, we identified profiles of youth in gay-straight alliances (GSAs) based on the extent to which they received information/resources, socializing/support, and advocacy opportunities in their GSAs and the extent to which this matched what they desired from their GSA along these three functions. Further, we examined profile differences in positive developmental competencies while accounting for community-contextual factors. In a sample of 290 youth from 42 Massachusetts GSAs, latent profile analyses identified five subgroups. Overall, youth receiving less from their GSAs than they desired, particularly regarding opportunities for advocacy, reported lower levels of self-reflection, bravery, civic engagement, and agency than youth who received information, socializing/support, and advocacy that matched or exceeded what they desired.

Figure 1.

Estimated within-profile means (1= not at all, 5= a lot) and standard errors for information and resources, socializing and support, and advocacy desired and received.

Figure 2.

Significant within-profile student characteristics and structural indicators. Profile 1= More Desired than Received (n=14); Profile 2= Moderate Needs Met (n=42); Profile 3= Low Desired-High Received (n=26); Profile 4= More Information and Advocacy Desired than Received (n=84); Profile 5= High Desired-High Received (n=124).