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Connected, respected and contributing to their world: The case of sexual minority and non-minority young people in Ireland
Költő, András Gavin, Aoife Vaughan, Elena Kelly, Colette Molcho, Michal Nic Gabhainn, Saoirse
Költő, András
Gavin, Aoife
Vaughan, Elena
Kelly, Colette
Molcho, Michal
Nic Gabhainn, Saoirse
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Date
2021-01-27
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journal article
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Citation
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
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.
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Department of Health, Ireland
Publisher
MDPI
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License
CC BY-NC-ND