LGBTQ youth experience health inequities, mostly attributable to societal stigma and marginalization and its related risks of rejection and violence, as well as lower social supports

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, Two-Spirit, queer and questioning (LGBTQ) youth have well-documented health inequities, mostly attributable to societal stigma and marginalization and its related risks of rejection and violence, as well as lower social support. These health inequities include higher rates of mental health problems, including suicidality, sexual health issues, including STIs and teen pregnancy involvement, problem substance use, injuries, and foregone health care. They are more likely to become homeless, and face discrimination in education, employment, and housing. (source: Elizabeth Saewyc, PhD , RN, FSAHM)

Not Yet Equal: The Health of Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Youth in B.C. (2007)

A research report released in 2007 by the McCreary Centre found that lesbian, gay and bisexual teens in B.C. experience greater levels of violence and more health challenges than heterosexual teens [opens to PDF]. McCreary’s research director Elizabeth Saewyc, a professor at UBC’s School of Nursing, said of the findings, “Most lesbian, gay and bisexual teens are doing well, but far too many experience stigma and discrimination. But when there are positive assets in these teens’ lives, they do well despite risks.” The research makes the link between risk exposure, lack of support—and heath issues:

“LGB youth report higher exposure to risk and lower social support than heterosexual youth, so it is no surprise that more of them have health issues,” says Saewyc. “We need to promote more supportive school environments for these youth and help families develop safer and more nurturing relationships with their LGB children.”

Study data were drawn from 1992, 1998 and 2003 B.C. Adolescent Health Surveys conducted in high schools across the province by McCreary Centre Society. The anonymous surveys included more than 74,000 youth in Grades 7-12 from more than 75 per cent of B.C. school districts. LGB youth were found in all grades and within all ethnic groups. They comprise two to four per cent of students in B.C. high schools or an estimated 7,000 students.

Reducing Stigma, Promoting Resilience: Population Health Interventions for LGBTQ Youth (underway)

Just how effective school and community programs are in reducing homophobic bullying of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBTQ) – and straight – youth is currently the focus of a $2-million, five-year study led by Prof. Elizabeth Saewyc at the University of British Columbia.  The study is funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).

“We know from previous research how common stigma and anti-gay bullying is in schools across Canada, and the health problems such violence can lead to,” says Saewyc.  “Schools and communities are using a lot of different strategies to try to change this, but very few of these strategies have been evaluated, to see not only if they work, and how well they work, but why they work.”

Researchers from 10 universities – representing seven Canadian provinces and several U.S. states – are co-investigators on the study. Their research partners also include ministries of education and health, national teacher and public health associations, school districts, and community programs that work with schools.  The researchers will document and assess the types of strategies that schools are using to foster connectedness and reduce bullying, and track trends in health and safety among youth. The team will also study the experiences of heterosexual teens who are harassed because people assume they are gay:

“Homophobia can affect anyone,” explains Saewyc. “In any high school, there are far more heterosexual teens than lesbian, gay, bisexual or questioning teens, and because of this, we have found half or more of those targeted for anti-gay harassment actually identify as straight.  There isn’t much research about them, but what there is suggests they have the same health consequences as LGBTQ youth who are bullied.”

Prof. Joy Johnson, Scientific Director of CIHR’s Institute of Gender and Health stresses that it is essential for CIHR to support this kind of research. “We hope the results of this study will lead to measures that will help to make school a positive experience for sexual minority youth in Canada,” she says.  The study is funded by CIHR’s Institute of Population and Public Health and Institute of Gender and Health and will continue through 2016.

We speak with Elizabeth Saewyc.

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RELATED | News release: $2M national study on “making it better” for lesbian, gay, bisexual – and straight – youth (Feb. 20, 2012) | The Straight: Canadian-led $2-million study to examine homophobic bullying in schools (Feb. 20, 2012) |