Premium
School Safety Among Sexual and Gender Minority Adolescents: Implications for Eating and Weight Control Behaviors
Author(s) -
Lessard Leah M.,
Wang Ethan Y.,
Watson Ryan J.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of school health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.851
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 1746-1561
pISSN - 0022-4391
DOI - 10.1111/josh.13069
Subject(s) - psychology , weight control , developmental psychology , sexual minority , body weight , sexual behavior , clinical psychology , sexual orientation , medicine , social psychology , obesity
BACKGROUND Unhealthy weight control and disordered eating behaviors are prevalent among adolescents who identify as a gender and/or sexual minority (SGM). The current study examined how perceptions of school safety contribute to reduced negative weight control and eating behaviors across adolescents with diverse sexual and gender identities. METHODS Data on perceptions of school safety, as well as negative weight control and disordered eating behaviors (ie, binge eating, eating to cope), were drawn from a large national sample of SGM secondary school students (ie, grades 7‐12; N = 17,112; LGBTQ National Teen Survey ). RESULTS Differences in negative weight control and disordered eating behaviors emerged as a function of gender identity and sexual orientation. School safety was significantly associated with fewer negative weight control behaviors ( B = −0.30, p < .001), reduced binge eating ( B = −0.19, p < .001), and less eating to cope ( B = −0.21, p < .001). Despite slight variation in the strength of these associations, the protective effects of school safety were significant across sexual and gender identities. CONCLUSIONS Findings suggest that efforts to support feelings of school safety among SGM students are likely to have positive implications for eating and weight‐related behaviors, and emphasize the need for interventions to promote climates of safety and inclusion within the school setting.