Greater Engagement in Gender-Sexuality Alliances (GSAs) and GSA Characteristics Predict Youth Empowerment and Reduced Mental Health Concerns

• Poteat, V. Paul ^[1] ; Calzo, Jerel P. ^[2] ; Yoshikawa, Hirokazu ^[3] ; Lipkin, Arthur ^[5] ; Ceccolini, Christopher J. ^[1] ; Rosenbach, Sarah B. ^[3] ; O’Brien, Michael D. ^[1] ; Marx, Robert A. ^[4] ; Murchison, Gabriel R. ^[6] ; Burson, Esther ^[3]
  1. [1] Boston College

     Boston College

     City of Boston, Estados Unidos

     
  2. [2] San Diego State University

     San Diego State University

     Estados Unidos

     
  3. [3] New York University

     New York University

     Estados Unidos

     
  4. [4] Vanderbilt University

     Vanderbilt University

     Estados Unidos

     
  5. [5] Cambridge, Massachusetts
  6. [6] Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health

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• Localización: Child development, ISSN 0009-3920, Vol. 91, Nº. 5, 2020, págs. 1509-1528
• Idioma: inglés
• Texto completo no disponible (Saber más ...)
• Resumen

  • Extracurricular groups can promote healthy development, yet the literature has given limited attention to indirect associations between extracurricular involvement and mental health or to sexual and gender minority youth. Among 580 youth (Mage = 15.59, range = 10?20 years) and adult advisors in 38 Gender-Sexuality Alliances (GSAs), multilevel structural equation models showed that greater engagement in GSAs over the school year predicted increased perceived peer validation, self-efficacy to promote social justice, and hope (baseline adjusted). Through increased hope, greater engagement indirectly predicted reduced depressive and anxiety symptoms at the year?s end (baseline adjusted). GSAs whose members had more mental health discussions and more meetings reported reduced mental health concerns. Findings suggest how groups addressing issues of equity and justice improve members? health.