@article{ref1, title="Out yonder: sexual-minority adolescents in rural communities in British Columbia", journal="American journal of public health", year="2009", author="Poon, Colleen S. and Saewyc, Elizabeth M.", volume="99", number="1", pages="118-124", abstract="OBJECTIVES: We compared sexual-minority adolescents living in rural communities with their peers in urban areas in British Columbia, exploring differences in emotional health, victimization experiences, sexual behaviors, and substance use. METHODS: We analyzed a population-based sample of self-identified lesbian, gay, or bisexual respondents from the British Columbia Adolescent Health Survey of 2003 (weighted n=6905). We tested rural-urban differences separately by gender with the chi2 test and logistic regressions. RESULTS: We found many similarities and several differences. Rural sexual-minority adolescent boys were more likely than were their urban peers to report suicidal behaviors and pregnancy involvement. Rural sexual-minority adolescents, especially girls, were more likely to report various types of substance use. Rural status was associated with a lower risk of dating violence and higher risk of early sexual debut for sexual-minority girls and a higher risk of dating violence and lower risk of early sexual debut for sexual-minority boys. CONCLUSIONS: Location should be a demographic consideration in monitoring the health of sexual-minority adolescents. Lesbian, gay, and bisexual adolescents in rural communities may need additional support and services as they navigate adolescence.

Language: en

", language="en", issn="0090-0036", doi="10.2105/AJPH.2007.122945", url="http://dx.doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2007.122945" }