The Strengths of Sexual- and Gender-Minoritized Adolescents: Results From the Millennium Cohort Study.

PURPOSE

Prior research has outlined the ways in which the health and well-being of sexual- and gender-minoritized adolescents (SGMA) is compromised relative to heterosexual cisgender adolescents. However, to date the strengths of SGMA have been under-explored. Informed by the 5Cs framework (i.e., competence, confidence, connection, character, and caring) of positive youth development, this paper considers some of the strengths reported by SGMA, as well as those of heterosexual cisgender adolescents.

METHODS

Aspects of positive youth development, drawing on the 5Cs framework, were explored among 7,076 adolescents aged 17 years old from the UK's nationally representative Millennium Cohort Study. Logistic regression models were used to compare outcomes between heterosexual cisgender males and the other sex, gender, and sexuality groups.

RESULTS

The sample included 40.7% cisgender heterosexual males (n = 2,877), 33.3% cisgender heterosexual females (n = 2,359), 17.0% cisgender sexual minority females (n = 1,205), 7.7% cisgender sexual minority males (n = 541), and 1.3% (n = 94) gender-minoritized adolescents. The majority, regardless of sex, gender, and sexuality group, reported strengths, especially in relation to indicators of positive social connections and having caring dispositions. Compared to exclusively heterosexual cisgender males, certain strengths were identified among SGMA, for example, sexual-minoritized adolescents were more likely to report competence in terms of academic qualifications, while gender-minoritized adolescents were more likely to report often volunteering to help others and seeing themselves as original and as coming up with new ideas.

DISCUSSION

SGMA, as with all adolescents generally, have a range of strengths. These features are infrequently reinforced in the literature and warrant further attention.