Sexual Minority Youth More Likely to Experience Homelessness
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter
MONDAY, Nov. 20, 2023 -- Sexual minority youth are more likely to experience homelessness, according to a study published online Nov. 20 in Pediatrics.
Cameron Deal and Gilbert Gonzales, Ph.D., from the Vanderbilt LGBTQ+ Policy Lab in Nashville, Tennessee, conducted a secondary data analysis using a large population-based sample from 21 states collected in the Youth Risk Behavior Surveys for 2017 and 2019. Self-reported data were obtained from 28,405 sexual minority and 136,232 heterosexual youth through a survey administered in high schools; the prevalence of homelessness and types of homelessness were examined.
The researchers found that compared with heterosexual youth, sexual minority youth were significantly more likely to be homeless (12 versus 4.1 percent). Among sexual minority and heterosexual youth, greater acceptance of sexual diversity at the state level was associated with reduced homelessness. Compared with nonhomeless sexual minority youth and homeless heterosexual youth, homeless sexual minority youth had elevated levels of a broad array of health risk behaviors.
"Practitioners should be aware of the health risks experienced by sexual minority homeless youth," the authors write. "More research, educational campaigns, and collaborative solutions are needed to prevent homelessness among sexual minority youth."
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2024 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted November 2023
Read this next
Transgender, Gender-Diverse Adults Face Higher Risk for Experiencing Violence
TUESDAY, July 2, 2024 -- Transgender and gender-diverse individuals have a higher risk for experiencing all forms of violence compared with cisgender women, according to a study...
Health Status, Mental Health Worsened in U.S. Transgender Adults From 2014 to 2022
TUESDAY, June 25, 2024 -- Health status, mental health, and health inequities worsened in the United States from 2014 to 2022 among transgender (TGD) adults, according to a...
Burden of Chronic Health Conditions Increased for LGTBQ+ Cancer Survivors
THURSDAY, June 20, 2024 -- Cancer survivors who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, plus (LGBTQ+) have an increased burden of all chronic health conditions...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.