Connected, Respected and Contributing to Their World: The Case of Sexual Minority and Non-Minority Young People in Ireland

András Költő, Aoife Gavin, Elena Vaughan, Colette Kelly, Michal Molcho and Saoirse Nic Gabhainn
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András Költő: Health Promotion Research Centre, National University of Ireland Galway, H91 TK33 Galway, Ireland
Aoife Gavin: Health Promotion Research Centre, National University of Ireland Galway, H91 TK33 Galway, Ireland
Elena Vaughan: Health Promotion Research Centre, National University of Ireland Galway, H91 TK33 Galway, Ireland
Colette Kelly: Health Promotion Research Centre, National University of Ireland Galway, H91 TK33 Galway, Ireland
Michal Molcho: School of Education, National University of Ireland Galway, H91 TK33 Galway, Ireland
Saoirse Nic Gabhainn: Health Promotion Research Centre, National University of Ireland Galway, H91 TK33 Galway, Ireland

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 3, 1-27

Abstract: Outcome 5 of the Irish Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures national youth policy framework (“Connected, respected, and contributing to their world”) offers a suitable way to study psychosocial determinants of adolescent health. The present study (1) provides nationally representative data on how 15- to 17-year-olds score on these indicators; (2) compares sexual minority (same- and both-gender attracted youth) with their non-minority peers. We analyzed data from 3354 young people (aged 15.78 ± 0.78 years) participating in the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study in Ireland. Age and social class were associated with the indicators only to a small extent, but girls were more likely than boys to report discrimination based on gender and age. Frequency of positive answers ranged from 67% (feeling comfortable with friends) to 12% (being involved in volunteer work). Sexual minority youth were more likely to feel discriminated based on sexual orientation, age, and gender. Both-gender attracted youth were less likely than the other groups to report positive outcomes. Same-gender attracted youth were twice as likely as non-minority youth to volunteer. The results indicate the importance of a comprehensive approach to psycho-social factors in youth health, and the need for inclusivity of sexual minority (especially bisexual) youth.

Keywords: adolescent health; psycho-social determinants of health; better outcomes brighter futures framework; BOBF; health behaviour in school-aged children study; HBSC; sexual minority youth; discrimination (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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