ERIC Number: EJ1266834
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2020
Pages: 20
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0009-3920
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Greater Engagement in Gender-Sexuality Alliances (GSAs) and GSA Characteristics Predict Youth Empowerment and Reduced Mental Health Concerns
Poteat, V. Paul; Calzo, Jerel P.; Yoshikawa, Hirokazu; Lipkin, Arthur; Ceccolini, Christopher J.; Rosenbach, Sarah B.; O'Brien, Michael D.; Marx, Robert A.; Murchison, Gabriel R.; Burson, Esther
Child Development, v91 n5 p1509-1528 Sep-Oct 2020
Extracurricular groups can promote healthy development, yet the literature has given limited attention to indirect associations between extracurricular involvement and mental health or to sexual and gender minority youth. Among 580 youth (M[subscript age] = 15.59, range = 10-20 years) and adult advisors in 38 Gender-Sexuality Alliances (GSAs), multilevel structural equation models showed that greater engagement in GSAs over the school year predicted increased perceived peer validation, self-efficacy to promote social justice, and hope (baseline adjusted). Through increased hope, greater engagement indirectly predicted reduced depressive and anxiety symptoms at the year's end (baseline adjusted). GSAs whose members had more mental health discussions and more meetings reported reduced mental health concerns. Findings suggest how groups addressing issues of equity and justice improve members' health.
Descriptors: LGBTQ People, Social Support Groups, Extracurricular Activities, Predictor Variables, Peer Acceptance, Self Efficacy, Social Justice, Psychological Patterns, Depression (Psychology), Anxiety, Symptoms (Individual Disorders), Mental Health, Sexual Identity
Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2191/en-us
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) (DHHS/NIH); Institute of Education Sciences (ED)
Authoring Institution: N/A
IES Funded: Yes
Grant or Contract Numbers: R01MD009458; R305A080512
Author Affiliations: N/A