School environment and the mental health of sexual minority youths: a study among Dutch young adolescents.

American Journal of Public Health
Theo G M SandfortMarijke Metselaar

Abstract

We examined whether structural elements of the school environment, in particular cultural pluralism and consistency and clarity of school rules and expectations of students, could mitigate the risk for mental health problems among young sexual minority adolescents. Data were collected in 2008 by means of a computer-based questionnaire completed at school by 513 young Dutch adolescents (12-15 years old) during regular class times. Eleven percent of these students, who were enrolled in 8 different schools, reported having at least some feelings of same-sex attraction. Adolescents with same-sex attractions in schools where rules and expectations were experienced as less consistent and clear reported significantly more mental health problems than their peers with no same-sex attractions in the same schools. Such differences were absent in schools where rules and expectations were experienced as more consistent and clear. There were no such effects of cultural pluralism. Our results suggest that schools with consistent and clear rules and expectations mitigate the risk for mental health problems among students with same-sex attractions and underscore the importance of structural measures for the health of sexual minority youth.

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Citations

Sep 25, 2012·Journal of Youth and Adolescence·Kate L CollierTheo G M Sandfort
Jun 19, 2014·Archives of Sexual Behavior·Henny BosTheo Sandfort
Dec 31, 2014·Archives of Sexual Behavior·Henny Bos, Theo Sandfort
Dec 4, 2014·Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology : the Official Journal for the Society of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, American Psychological Association, Division 53·Simon DennyJennifer Utter
Dec 28, 2010·The Journal of Adolescent Health : Official Publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine·Carolyn T Halpern
Jul 18, 2016·The Journal of Adolescent Health : Official Publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine·Lisette KuyperGonneke Stevens
Sep 1, 2013·Perspectives on Psychological Science : a Journal of the Association for Psychological Science·David J LickKerri L Johnson
Oct 27, 2018·Journal of Homosexuality·Wendelien Vantieghem, Mieke Van Houtte
Dec 14, 2011·Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics : JDBP·Loes van GelderenEllen C Perrin
Mar 19, 2020·International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·Ha Ngoc DoCyrus S H Ho
Aug 26, 2019·Journal of Youth and Adolescence·Sharon ColvinRobert W S Coulter
May 31, 2021·Journal of School Psychology·Alexa Martin-StoreyJosafá Moreira Da Cunha

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