Out Yonder: Sexual-Minority Adolescents in Rural Communities in British Columbia
- 1 January 2009
- journal article
- research article
- Published by American Public Health Association in American Journal of Public Health
- Vol. 99 (1), 118-124
- https://doi.org/10.2105/ajph.2007.122945
Abstract
Objectives. We compared sexual-minority adolescents living in rural communities with their peers in urban areas in British Columbia, exploring differences in emotional health, victimization experiences, sexual behaviors, and substance use. Methods. We analyzed a population-based sample of self-identified lesbian, gay, or bisexual respondents from the British Columbia Adolescent Health Survey of 2003 (weighted n = 6905). We tested rural–urban differences separately by gender with the χ2 test and logistic regressions. Results. We found many similarities and several differences. Rural sexual-minority adolescent boys were more likely than were their urban peers to report suicidal behaviors and pregnancy involvement. Rural sexual-minority adolescents, especially girls, were more likely to report various types of substance use. Rural status was associated with a lower risk of dating violence and higher risk of early sexual debut for sexual-minority girls and a higher risk of dating violence and lower risk of early sexual debut for sexual-minority boys. Conclusions. Location should be a demographic consideration in monitoring the health of sexual-minority adolescents. Lesbian, gay, and bisexual adolescents in rural communities may need additional support and services as they navigate adolescence.Keywords
This publication has 41 references indexed in Scilit:
- Suicidal Ideation and Attempts in North American School-Based Surveys: Are Bisexual Youth at Increasing Risk?Journal of LGBT Health Research, 2007
- A Model of Sexual Risk Behaviors Among Young Gay and Bisexual Men: Longitudinal Associations of Mental Health, Substance Abuse, Sexual Abuse, and the Coming-Out ProcessAIDS Education and Prevention, 2006
- Sexual Orientation, Sexual Abuse, and HIV-Risk Behaviors Among Adolescents in the Pacific NorthwestAmerican Journal of Public Health, 2006
- The Impact of Community Size on Lesbian and Bisexual Women's Psychosexual DevelopmentJournal of Psychology & Human Sexuality, 2004
- Gay-related stress and emotional distress among gay, lesbian and bisexual youths: A longitudinal examination.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 2002
- Gay-related stress and emotional distress among gay, lesbian and bisexual youths: A longitudinal examination.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 2002
- Gender differences in health and risk behaviors among bisexual and homosexual adolescentsJournal of Adolescent Health, 1998
- Queer country: Rural lesbian and gay livesJournal of Rural Studies, 1995
- Suicide ideation among a stratified sample of rural and urban adolescentsTRADITION -A JOURNAL OF ORTHODOX JEWISH THOUGHT, 1994
- Verbal and physical abuse as stressors in the lives of lesbian, gay male, and bisexual youths: Associations with school problems, running away, substance abuse, prostitution, and suicide.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 1994