Citation

Wilson MN, Asbridge M, Langille DB. J. Sch. Health 2018; 88(3): 182-189.

Affiliation

Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, Dalhousie University, Clinical Research Centre, 5790 University Avenue Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 1V7, Canada.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, American School Health Association, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/josh.12595

PMID

29399841

Abstract

BACKGROUND: In examining associations of sexual orientation, school connectedness (SC), and depression, no studies have used a continuum of sexual orientation. Additionally, no study has examined whether individuals with higher SC within subgroups of the continuum of sexual orientation are protected from symptoms of depression when compared to others within their own group. Our study aimed to address these deficiencies.

METHODS: Data were from a cross-sectional survey of 6643 public high school students. Logistic regression was used to determine if higher SC was associated with protection from symptoms of depression comparing students with minority sexual orientations to heterosexual students, and whether SC was protective within subgroups of orientation.

RESULTS: Mean SC scores were higher in heterosexuals than in all other orientation subgroups. Except for bisexual boys, compared with being heterosexual, being in other subgroups of orientation was associated with symptoms of depression, independent of SC. In both sexes SC was protective against depression risk within all categories of orientation except mostly/100% homosexual girls.

CONCLUSIONS: Within all subgroups of sexual orientation except mostly/completely homosexual girls, SC was protective for symptoms of depression, indicating its potential importance for prevention of depression in all students, including perhaps particularly those with minority orientation.

© 2018, American School Health Association.

Language: en

Keywords

adolescents; school connectedness; sexual orientation; youth depression