School outcomes of sexual minority youth in the United States: evidence from a national study

• DOI: 10.1006/jado.2000.0365
• Publication Date: 2002-09-17T23:19:12Z
• Authors: STEPHEN T. RUSSELL; HINDA SEIF; NHAN L. TRUONG
• Keywords: Male; Schools; Adolescent; Sexual Behavior; 4. Education; 05 social sciences; Homosexuality, Female; United States; 5. Gender equality; Bisexuality; Humans; Family; Female; Interpersonal Relations; Homosexuality, Male; 10. No inequality; 0503 education

Using data from the Add Health Study, the first nationally representative study of adolescents in the U.S. to include information on same-sex romantic attraction, we examine school outcomes (school troubles, attitudes, and performance) of same-sex attracted youth within the context of four relational domains: family, teacher, social, and peer. Results indicate that each domain plays a role in the negative attitudes about school held by these sexual minority youth. However, sexual minority youths' feelings about their teachers play an important role in explaining school troubles.