HMN 2025: How New UK population-based study highlights strengths of LGBT adolescents

New analysis has highlighted the often-overlooked strengths of LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) adolescents.

Previous research on LGBT youth have typically centered on disparities in well being and well-being. But this new paper—led by researchers from City St George’s, University of London and The Open University—as a substitute outlines the distinctive strengths of LGBT youth.

The study, printed within the Journal of Adolescent Health, used knowledge from over 7,000 younger individuals aged 17 years previous from the nationally consultant UK Millennium Cohort Study. It utilized the 5Cs model of constructive youth growth—competence, confidence, connection, character and caring—to match experiences throughout totally different gender and sexuality teams.

The pattern included 41% cisgender heterosexual males, 33% cisgender heterosexual females, 17% cisgender sexual minority females (e.g., LGB youth), 8% cisgender sexual minority males, and 1% gender-minoritized adolescents.

As Pride Month celebrations proceed throughout the UK, the findings present that LGBT adolescents report a variety of strengths, notably when it comes to their social connections and caring attributes. Additionally, sexual minoritized adolescents had been extra possible than their cisgender heterosexual male friends to report tutorial competence, whereas gender minoritized adolescents had been extra prone to describe themselves as artistic and community-minded.

Dr. Mat Lucassen, Reader in Mental Health within the School of Health & Medical Sciences at City St George’s, University of London, mentioned, “LGBT younger persons are routinely considered as in danger and analysis up to now has been deficit-focused. Our new paper highlights the strengths of those youths, reinforcing situations where they’re doing higher than heterosexual cisgender youth.

“Emphasizing the challenges minoritized teams, like LGBT younger individuals, face is essential. Doing this can lead to motivating a society to alter unfavourable environments and by extension enhance outcomes. But the issue is that continually emphasizing their perceived deficits implies that LGBT younger individuals can internalize a variety of unfavourable or poisonous messages (like I’m one way or the other incorrect or inferior)—which in flip exacerbates the psycho-social struggles they encounter.”