Dissemin is shutting down on January 1st, 2025

Published in

SAGE Publications, Youth and Society, 2(53), p. 211-229, 2020

DOI: 10.1177/0044118x20951045

Links

Tools

Export citation

Search in Google Scholar

Gay-Straight Alliances, School Functioning, and Mental Health: Associations for Students of Color and LGBTQ Students

Journal article published in 2020 by Laura Baams ORCID, Stephen T. Russell
This paper was not found in any repository, but could be made available legally by the author.
This paper was not found in any repository, but could be made available legally by the author.

Full text: Unavailable

Green circle
Preprint: archiving allowed
Green circle
Postprint: archiving allowed
Red circle
Published version: archiving forbidden
Data provided by SHERPA/RoMEO

Abstract

Utilizing a school-based sample of 895,218 students aged 10–18 years old, we examine differences in students’ school functioning, substance use, and mental health in schools with and without Gay-Straight Alliances (GSAs). In addition, we examine whether GSA presence is associated with these outcomes for students of color and LGBTQ students. Overall, students in schools with GSAs were found to report better school functioning, lower substance use, and better mental health. For students of color, the association between the presence of a GSA and mental health and substance use was not as strong as it was for non-Hispanic white students. Further, for LGBTQ students, the association between the presence of a GSA and school functioning was not as strong as it was for non-LGBTQ students. Future research is necessary to ascertain the function of GSAs, especially for marginalized youth.