In a new study this week, researchers found that gay-straight alliances had a positive effect on the mental health and well-being of LGBT youth — the first of its kind showing that positive school-based support can result in long-term benefits for LGBT youth.
The study, published in Applied Developmental Science, looked at the school-related experiences of 245 LGBT adults, ages 21-25. Among the findings was that the positive impact of a GSA was particularly strong when students saw the GSA as effectively promoting a safer school environment.
In particular, “High School Gay-Straight Alliances and Young Adult Well-Being” found that LGBT youth who attended middle or high schools with GSAs were more likely to have better mental health as young adults, were less likely to drop out of school and were more likely to attend college.
Considering that previous research has found that LGBT students are more likely to experience negative mental health and violence than their heterosexual counterparts, the new findings are significant. Among the previous findings are that LGBT school bullying is related to compromised academic achievement; LGB youth and young adults report higher levels of depression and other mental-health issues; and LGBT youth are at greater risk for school victimization based on sexual orientation and/or gender expression.
The study, conducted by researchers Russell B. Toomeya, Caitlin Ryanb, Rafael M. Diazb and Stephen T. Russell, analyzed surveys completed in the San Francisco Bay area through the Family Acceptance Project in 2005.
Of the 245 participants, 86 reported that their high school had a GSA or similar club. Of these, 55 participated in their GSA.
Researchers concluded that the mere presence of a GSA was “significantly associated with young adult psychosocial well-being and educational attainment.” Further, simply having a GSA at their school resulted in lower reports of depression and higher self-esteem. Presence of a GSA was also associated with less risk of dropout and increased college education attainment.
Beyond the presence of a GSA, the research found that those who participated in a GSA had fewer problems with substance abuse in early adulthood. Further, the study found students who participated in GSAs at schools with low levels of LGBT victimization had less depression. However, for those who attended schools with high levels of LGBT victimization, researchers concluded that the benefits of GSA participation diminished as victimization increased. Thus, a GSA alone is not necessarily enough to overcome LGBT victimization and should be coupled with other efforts to combat anti-LGBT bias in schools, such as teacher training, antidiscrimination and antiharassment policies and an LGBT-inclusive curriculum.