Date of Award
January 2012
Document Type
Open Access Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Public Health (MPH)
Department
School of Public Health
First Advisor
Mayur Desai
Second Advisor
Megan Smith
Abstract
Objectives: Our first objective was to determine whether lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) adolescents were as likely as straight adolescents to report having connections with school adults. Our second objective was to find whether LGB adolescents benefited more from these connections in regards to a variety of risk behaviors and mental health indicators.
Methods: Utilizing the NYC 2009 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS), we analyzed whether adolescents differed in their connections to school adults based on self-reported sexual orientation. We created a 4-category variable combining both sexual orientation and presence of a school adult connection and then examined differences in prevalence and odds of the following outcomes: alcohol use, marijuana use, illicit drug use, depressive symptoms, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempt.
Results: Straight and LGB adolescents were equally likely to report having a connection with an adult at school. LGB adolescents benefited more from such connections, as evidenced by the presence of additive interaction.
Conclusions: School adult connections are beneficial for all adolescents, but especially LGB adolescents. Interventions should focus on boosting social support for this high-risk group.
Recommended Citation
Seil, Kacie, "Sexuality, Adult Connectedness, And Risk Behaviors Among New York City Adolescents: Findings From The 2009 Yrbs" (2012). Public Health Theses. 1263.
https://elischolar.library.yale.edu/ysphtdl/1263
Comments
This is an Open Access Thesis.