Connected, respected and contributing to their world: The case of sexual minority and non-minority young people in Ireland
Date
2021-01-27Author
Költő, András
Gavin, Aoife
Vaughan, Elena
Kelly, Colette
Molcho, Michal
Nic Gabhainn, Saoirse
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Költő, András, Gavin, Aoife, Vaughan, Elena, Kelly, Colette, Molcho, Michal, & Nic Gabhainn, Saoirse. (2021). Connected, Respected and Contributing to Their World: The Case of Sexual Minority and Non-Minority Young People in Ireland. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(3), 1118. doi:10.3390/ijerph18031118
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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.