Sexual-orientation differences in positive youth development: The mediational role of bullying victimization

R.W.S. Coulter, A.L. Herrick, M. Reuel Friedman and R.D. Stall

American Journal of Public Health, 2016, vol. 106, issue 4, 691-697

Abstract: Objectives. To examine sexual-orientation differences in positive youth development, and how bullying victimization mediated these differences in a sample of adolescents. Methods. In 2007 to 2008, positive youth development was measured in 1870 adolescents from US schools and after-school programs in 45 states by using the validated Five Cs model of competence, confidence, connection, character, and caring/compassion. Sexual-minority youths (6.8%) reported having same-or both-gender sexual attractions. Nonattracted youths (4.2%) reported having no sexual attractions. Results. Compared with sexual-minority youths, heterosexual and nonattracted youths had lower odds of being a victim of bullying. Heterosexual and nonattracted youths also had higher average scores in competence, confidence, and connection, but these associations between sexual orientation and positive youth development scoreswere partly attributable to lack of bullying victimization. Conclusions. Designing, implementing, and evaluating interventions that reduce bullying can give sexual-minority youths access to several building blocks of health and well-being.

Keywords: adolescent; adolescent behavior; adolescent development; bullying; female; heterosexuality; homosexuality; human; male; minority group; psychology; questionnaire; sexuality; statistics and numerical data, Adolescent; Adolescent Behavior; Adolescent Development; Bullying; Female; Heterosexuality; Homosexuality; Humans; Male; Minority Groups; Sexuality; Surveys and Questionnaires (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

Downloads: (external link)
http://hdl.handle.net/10.2105/AJPH.2015.303005

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2015.303005_1

DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2015.303005

Access Statistics for this article

American Journal of Public Health is currently edited by Alfredo Morabia

More articles in American Journal of Public Health from American Public Health Association
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Christopher F Baum ().