Gender and sexual identity-based inequalities in adolescent wellbeing: findings from the #BeeWell Study

Abstract

Background Gender and sexual minority adolescents experience greater symptoms of psychological distress than their peers, but little is known about broader aspects of their wellbeing. This study examines wellbeing inequalities relating to gender and sexual identity among adolescents from Greater Manchester in the United Kingdom. Method 37,978 adolescents (aged 12–15, attending 165 secondary schools) completed surveys of life satisfaction, positive and negative affect (hedonic framework); autonomy, self-esteem, optimism, and positive relationships (eudaimonic framework); and, symptoms of distress and mental wellbeing (complete state framework). Structural correlated factors models were used to assess gender and sexual identity wellbeing inequalities. Results The magnitude of wellbeing inequalities pertaining to gender and sexual identity were routinely substantially greater than those concerning other characteristics (e.g., socio-economic disadvantage). Gender identity wellbeing inequalities followed a consistent pattern, with the largest disparities evident between gender diverse adolescents and boys. Sexual identity wellbeing inequalities also followed a consistent pattern, with the largest disparities evident between sexual minority youth (both gay/lesbian and bi/pansexual) and their heterosexual peers. Finally, variation was evident across wellbeing domains. For example, observed gender identity (boys vs. girls) and sexual identity (heterosexual vs. sexual minority) disparities were substantially greater for symptoms of distress than for mental wellbeing in the complete state model. Conclusions LGBTQ + adolescents experience lower wellbeing than their peers, and this is evident across a range of wellbeing domains. Accordingly, there is an urgent need for the prioritisation of improved prevention and intervention efforts that can better meet the needs of gender diverse and sexual minority youth, and future research should be conducted to improve understanding of the mechanisms underpinning the wellbeing inequalities observed.

Do Patterns of Adolescent Participation in Arts, Culture and Entertainment Activities Predict Later Wellbeing? A Latent Class Analysis

“…Adolescents who identify as belonging to gender and/or sexual minority groups (i.e., lesbian, gay, bi/pansexual, transgender, or questioning; LGBTQ+) experience increased exposure to a range of stressors (e.g., victimization, discrimination, feeling unsafe in the local area; in the context of a cisheteronormative culture (i.e., that which privileges being cisgender and heterosexual; Marquez et al, 2023), which may have the consequence of making certain forms of PACE unappealing and inaccessible. Three categories were derived for this covariate: Cisgender heterosexual boys (33.62%, N = 6126); Cisgender heterosexual girls (29.28%, N = 5336); and, LGBTQ+ (29.99%, N = 5466).…”

The Effects of Learning-Related and Peer-Related School Experiences on Adolescent Wellbeing: A Longitudinal Structural Equation Model

“…If two confidence intervals do not overlap, the difference in their effect sizes is considered statistically significant at the p < 0.05 level (Greenland et al, 2016). While possibly conservative (Schenker & Gentleman, 2001), this is particularly useful for interpreting significant differences across groups in large samples (Cumming, 2009;Marquez et al, 2023)/ Thus, strength of the relationship is judged in relative terms: on the basis of the value of the point estimates, the overlap-non-overlap of confidence intervals, and as well as through statistical significance on the basis of p-value.…”

Queer on TV: Using the minority stress model to explore the role of LGBQ+ television exposure in LGBQ+ audiences’ psychological well-being and identity status.

“…In fact, sexual minority youth experience more stressors (e.g., bullying, conversion therapy; Meyer, 2015) and adverse mental health outcomes (Goldbach & Gibbs, 2017) compared to their heterosexual peers. More specifically, in relation to heterosexual youth, sexual minorities indicate higher rates of negative behavioral health outcomes including depression and anxiety (Marquez et al, 2023), substance abuse (Connors & McNamara Barry, 2023), and suicidal ideation (The Trevor Project, 2024). Such health disparities are of critical importance because they can impact future developmental goals and lead to negative outcomes later in life (Turner et al, 2006).…”