Kolto, Andras and Gavin, Aoife and Vaughan, Elena and Kelly, Colette and Molcho, Michal and Nic Gabhainn, Saoirse (2021) Connected, respected, and contributing to their world: the case of sexual minority and non-minority young people in Ireland. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18, (3), 1118. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18031118.
External website: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/3/1118/htm
Outcome 5 of the Irish Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures national youth policy framework (“Connected, respected, and contributing to their world”) offers a suitable way to study psychosocial determinants of adolescent health. The present study (1) provides nationally representative data on how 15- to 17-year-olds score on these indicators; (2) compares sexual minority (same- and both-gender attracted youth) with their non-minority peers. We analyzed data from 3354 young people (aged 15.78 ± 0.78 years) participating in the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study in Ireland. Age and social class were associated with the indicators only to a small extent, but girls were more likely than boys to report discrimination based on gender and age. Frequency of positive answers ranged from 67% (feeling comfortable with friends) to 12% (being involved in volunteer work). Sexual minority youth were more likely to feel discriminated based on sexual orientation, age, and gender. Both-gender attracted youth were less likely than the other groups to report positive outcomes. Same-gender attracted youth were twice as likely as non-minority youth to volunteer. The results indicate the importance of a comprehensive approach to psycho-social factors in youth health, and the need for inclusivity of sexual minority (especially bisexual) youth.
T Demographic characteristics > Adolescent / youth (teenager / young person)
T Demographic characteristics > Homosexual, gay, bisexual, lesbian, transgender, LGBTQI
VA Geographic area > Europe > Ireland
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