Porta Carolyn M, Singer Erin, Mehus Christopher J, Gower Amy L, Saewyc Elizabeth, Fredkove Windy, Eisenberg Marla E
School of Nursing, University of Minnesota, 5-160 Weaver Densford Hall, 308 Harvard Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455.
School of Social Work, Boston College, 140 Commonwealth Ave., Chestnut Hill, MA 02467.
J Sch Health. 2017 Jul;87(7):489-497. doi: 10.1111/josh.12517.
Gay-Straight Alliances (GSAs) are school-based clubs that can contribute to a healthy school climate for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth. While positive associations between health behaviors and GSAs have been documented, less is known about how youth perceive GSAs.
A total of 58 LGBTQ youth (14-19 years old) mentioned GSAs during go-along interviews in 3 states/provinces in North America. These 446 comments about GSAs were thematically coded and organized using Atlas.ti software by a multidisciplinary research team.
A total of 3 themes describe youth-perceived attributes of GSAs. First, youth identified GSAs as an opportunity to be members of a community, evidenced by their sense of emotional connection, support and belonging, opportunities for leadership, and fulfillment of needs. Second, GSAs served as a gateway to resources outside of the GSA, such as supportive adults and informal social locations. Third, GSAs represented safety.
GSAs positively influence the physical, social, emotional, and academic well-being of LGBTQ young people and their allies. School administrators and staff are positioned to advocate for comprehensive GSAs. Study findings offer insights about the mechanisms by which GSAs benefit youth health and well-being.
同性恋异性恋联盟（GSA）是校内社团，有助于为女同性恋、男同性恋、双性恋、跨性别及性取向存疑（LGBTQ）的青少年营造健康的校园氛围。虽然已有文献记载健康行为与GSA之间存在积极关联，但对于青少年如何看待GSA却知之甚少。
在北美3个州/省进行的随行访谈中，共有58名LGBTQ青少年（14 - 19岁）提到了GSA。一个多学科研究团队使用Atlas.ti软件对这些关于GSA的446条评论进行了主题编码和整理。
共有3个主题描述了青少年所感知到的GSA的特质。首先，青少年将GSA视为成为一个社群成员的机会，这体现在他们的情感联系感、支持感和归属感、领导机会以及需求的满足上。其次，GSA是获取GSA之外资源的途径，比如支持他们的成年人和非正式社交场所。第三，GSA代表着安全。
GSA对LGBTQ青少年及其盟友的身体、社交、情感和学业福祉产生积极影响。学校管理人员和教职员工有能力倡导建立全面的GSA。研究结果为GSA有益于青少年健康和福祉的机制提供了见解。
