Person‐Environment Fit and Positive Youth Development in the Context of High School Gay–Straight Alliances

2018/09/27 by Jerel P. Calzo, V. Paul Poteat, Hirokazu Yoshikawa +2 · 1 citation
Psychology · Social Sciences · #LGBTQ Health, Identity, and Policy #Social Media and Politics #Youth Development and Social Support

paper · doi:10.1111/jora.12456

openalex publication_date 2018/09/27 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/04

Abstract

Drawing from a person-environment fit framework, we identified profiles of youth in gay-straight alliances (GSAs) based on the extent to which they received information/resources, socializing/support, and advocacy opportunities in their GSAs and the extent to which this matched what they desired from their GSA along these three functions. Further, we examined profile differences in positive developmental competencies while accounting for community-contextual factors. In a sample of 290 youth from 42 Massachusetts GSAs, latent profile analyses identified five subgroups. Overall, youth receiving less from their GSAs than they desired, particularly regarding opportunities for advocacy, reported lower levels of self-reflection, bravery, civic engagement, and agency than youth who received information, socializing/support, and advocacy that matched or exceeded what they desired.

Citations

• Ethical and Regulatory Issues with Conducting Sexuality Research with LGBT Adolescents: A Call to Action for a Scientifically Informed Approach
• Gay-Straight Alliances, Social Justice Involvement, and School Victimization of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Queer Youth
• Prejudice, social stress, and mental health in lesbian, gay, and bisexual populations: Conceptual issues and research evidence.
• The international personality item pool and the future of public-domain personality measures
• Integrating Person‐Centered and Variable‐Centered Analyses: Growth Mixture Modeling With Latent Trajectory Classes
• LGBTQ Youth's Views on Gay‐Straight Alliances: Building Community, Providing Gateways, and Representing Safety and Support
• Self-determination theory and the facilitation of intrinsic motivation, social development, and well-being.

Cited by

• Safe harbours in treacherous waters: Leading pride groups in schools

Related

• Contextualizing Gay-Straight Alliances: Student, Advisor, and Structural Factors Related to Positive Youth Development Among Members
• LGBTQ Youth's Views on Gay‐Straight Alliances: Building Community, Providing Gateways, and Representing Safety and Support
• Gay-Straight Alliances, Social Justice Involvement, and School Victimization of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Queer Youth
• Greater Engagement in Gender-Sexuality Alliances (GSAs) and GSA Characteristics Predict Youth Empowerment and Reduced Mental Health Concerns
• LGBTQ+ advocacy and inclusive school policies are associated with self-worth among youth in gender-sexuality alliances over the school year.