Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Multicenter Study
. 2020 Feb;30 Suppl 2(Suppl 2):418-430.
doi: 10.1111/jora.12487. Epub 2019 Mar 12.

Gay-Straight Alliances, Inclusive Policy, and School Climate: LGBTQ Youths' Experiences of Social Support and Bullying

Jack K Day  1 , Jessica N Fish  1 , Arnold H Grossman  2 , Stephen T Russell  1
Affiliations
Multicenter Study

Gay-Straight Alliances, Inclusive Policy, and School Climate: LGBTQ Youths' Experiences of Social Support and Bullying

Jack K Day et al. J Res Adolesc. 2020 Feb.

Abstract

Gay-Straight Alliances (GSA) and school policies focused on support for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning youth may reduce bias-based bullying and enhance social supports in schools. Using multivariate regression, we tested the relationship between youth reports of the presence of GSAs and LGBTQ-focused policies, independently and mutually, with experiences bullying and perceived support (n = 1,061). Youth reported higher classmate support in the presence of GSAs and higher teacher support in the presence of LGBTQ-focused policies; the presence of both GSAs and LGBTQ-focused policies was associated with less bullying and higher perceived classmate and teacher support. The findings indicate that GSAs and LGBTQ-focused policies are distinctly and mutually important for fostering safer and more supportive school climates for youth.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Battin-Pearson S, Newcomb MD, Abbott RD, Hill KG, Catalano RF, & Hawkins JD (2000). Predictors of early high school dropout: A test of five theories. Journal of Educational Psychology, 92(3), 568. 10.1037/0022-0663.92.3.568 - DOI
    1. Beemyn G, & Rankin S. (2011). Introduction to the special issue on “LGBTQ campus experiences”. Journal of Homosexuality, 58, 1159–1164. 10.1080/00918369.2011.605728 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Birkett M, Espelage DL, & Koenig B. (2009). LGB and questioning students in schools: The moderating effects of homophobic bullying and school climate on negative outcomes. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 38, 989–1000. 10.1007/s10964-008-9389-1 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Blake SM, Ledsky R, Lehman T, Goodenow C, Sawyer R, & Hack T. (2001). Preventing sexual risk behaviors among gay, lesbian, and bisexual adolescents: The benefits of gay-sensitive HIV instruction in schools. American Journal of Public Health, 91(6), 940. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Bond L, Butler H, Thomas L, Carlin J, Glover S, Bowes G, & Patton G. (2007). Social and school connectedness in early secondary school as predictors of late teenage substance use, mental health, and academic outcomes. Journal of Adolescent Health, 40, 357.e9–357.e18. 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2006.10.013 - DOI - PubMed

Publication types