A conceptual overview of "The Q & A Project," a federally-funded, longitudinal study of lesbian, gay, and bisexual (lgb) youths will be presented. This project is following several hundred lgb youths in three sites and will interview them three times over a two-year period. Challenges in implementing and administering the project will be discussed, with special attention directed to protecting the youths. The project is obtaining detailed information about the youths' development, their families and support systems, and multiple life stressors, including victimization based on sexual orientation. These factors will be linked to various mental health outcomes, particularly posttraumatic stress disorder and suicidality. Initial findings from the first wave of interviews will be presented.
Learning Objectives: A the conclusion of the presentation, participants should be able to: 1) understand a conceptual framework for relating the victimization of lesbian, gay and bisexual (lgb) youths to their development over time; 2) identify the primary challenges that researchers face in planning, initiating and administering research with lgb youths; 3) identify some of the mechanisms that mediate the relationship between victimization and mental health among lgb youths
Keywords: Gay, Youth
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.