255437 Health disparities by sexual orientation among high school youth: Findings from the New York City Youth Risk Behavioral Surveillance Survey, 2009

Monday, October 29, 2012 : 4:30 PM - 4:45 PM

Kristi E. Gamarel, MA, EdM , Subprogram in Social/Personality Psychology, CUNY Graduate Center and Center for HIV Educational Studies & Training, New York, NY
Sari L. Reisner, MA , The Fenway Institute, Fenway Health and Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA
H. Jonathon Rendina, MA, MPH , Center for HIV/AIDS Educational Studies and Training (CHEST) and Basic and Applied Social Psychology Doctoral Program, Hunter College and the Graduate Center of the City University of New York (CUNY), New York, NY
Margaret M. Wolff, MSW , Center for HIV Educational Studies & Training, New York, NY
Sarit A. Golub, PhD, MPH , Department of Psychology, Hunter College of the City University of New York (CUNY), New York, NY
Background: Despite reports of strong associations between bullying and adverse health outcomes among sexual minority and heterosexual adolescents, few representative population studies have specifically examined experiences of school and cyber-bullying and its association with substance use and mental health outcomes based on sexual orientation.

Methods: Data were analyzed from the 2009 New York City Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey. High school students (N=7376) who reported sexual orientation identity were included in the final data analytic sample. Weighted multivariable logistic regression models examined the associations between sexual orientation and school violence (cyber- and school bullying) on four recent health outcomes: binge drinking; smoking; psychological distress; and suicidal ideation.

Results: Overall, 7.11% of the sample identified as sexual minority, 1.63% lesbian/gay and 5.48% bisexual. In weighted multivariable logistic regression models adjusted for relevant covariates, being lesbian, gay, or bisexual (in comparison to heterosexual) was associated with health disparities: binge drinking, cigarette smoking, psychological distress, and suicidal ideation. All forms of bullying (school and cyber-bullying) were associated with psychological distress, suicidal ideation, and with binge drinking among LGB youth.

Discussion: The results of the representative, population level study provide further evidence that sexual minority youth are at a two- to three-fold increase risk for adverse health outcomes, compared to heterosexual youth. Experiences of school and cyber-bullying patterned alongside health disparities and represent an important area for future research with sexual minorities to further understand social disparities in health.

Learning Areas:
Epidemiology
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
Learning Objective 1: To document health disparities among sexual minority youth using a representative population study. Learning Objective 2: To identify and examine experiences of school and cyber-bullying among high school students, and to consider its role in health disparities, including its potentiating role in health disparities among sexual minority youth.

Keywords: Mental Health, Substance Abuse

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: Kristi Gamarel is a doctoral student at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York (CUNY) in the Social Personality Psychology Department. Kristi has over 10 years of work experience in the fields of health psychology and public health research within the areas of mental health and HIV prevention. She has presented her research at scientific conferences.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 3435.0: Mental Health and Substance Use Among LGBT Communities