You are on page 1of 14

LGBT GROUP: GAY TEEN MALES

By: Jenn Coon, Meg Isagholi, Shanna Leavitt, Sheena Marquez, Anna Suchy, Corinne Trenholm, Casey Walker

BULLYING

LGBT youth are at a greater risk for experiencing bullying, teasing, harassment, physical assault, and suicide-related behaviors Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2011)

Survey of more than 7,000 LGBT middle and high school students ages 1321 years found:

8 out of 10 students verbally harassed, 4 out of 10 physically harassed, 6 out of 10 felt unsafe, and 1 of 5 were victims of a physical assault.

Dead Boys Cant Dance

Schools were identified as places of psychological and physical harassment

Young gay males are more at risk of being tormented and harassed without support from peers, teachers, and families.

BULLYING CONTINUED

Hatzenbuehler, McLaughlin, & Xuan (2012) Gay male youth are more isolated, have lower social status, and connections in their social networks at school which is associated with an increase of depressive symptoms. Importance for preventative interventions Tanner (2012)

Gay teen males experience increased bullying compared to lesbian females Tends to get better with age Verbal and physical violence in high school

Personal Interview

OT INTERVENTIONS PREVENT, MAINTAIN, PROMOTE, & ESTABLISH

Anti-bullying programs
School Personnel Students

Bullying behaviors Response strategies Resources

Acceptance Kindness Cooperation Conflict Resolution Resources

Sexual orientation classes incorporated into sexual education classes


For all students and staff Separate classes for those who are LGBT

Mentoring and safe environments for students who are LGBT


Role models Teachers, staff, peer models, community representatives, family members LGBT groups for teens who are LGBT & allies

FAMILY SUPPORT

Protective factor
Depression, drug & alcohol use, suicide Decreased risk for homelessness Transition from adolescence to young adulthood

Lack of family support:


Health disparities Inter-turmoil Risky behavior Inability to be ones self

Long lasting behaviors adopted


(Needham & Austin, 2010)

Mother & fathers acceptance most important

Overall, homosexual males reported having had more strained relationships with males in their families compared to females (p. 29)
(Dorais & Lajeunesse, 2004)

Interviewee

Hispanic culture Masculinity vs. femininity Need for education

Need for family resources & education

FAMILY SUPPORT CONTINUED

I really never told any of my other siblings until very recently. It was never important for me how my siblings felt about it. As long as I had my parents support I was ok.

I told my father eventually, he right then and there said to me, well whatever your situation is, you will always be a part of this family and you will always be my son. He didnt fully understand what was going on, but it was a break through.

Multiple interviewees reported family attempts to CURE them of being gay!

SUPPORT GROUPS

Generally: Society has grown more tolerant of homosexuality; however, teenagers are still facing frequent discrimination LGBT need role models who can help disprove societys misconception regarding homosexuality

RELIGION AND HOMOSEXUALITY

My parents were fervent believers. For them homosexuality was to be condemned. God rejected and hated gaysI was a big monster, social garbage. If religion had not been there, I would have maybe not tried to kill myself. It was super oppressing, that idea of sin, abnormality, and blame, with everyone around me believing it.
(Dorais & Lajeunesse, 2004, p. 69)

RELIGION AND HOMOSEXUALITY

I decided that I could no longer be part of an organization that so openly talked about my life in such a derogatory way. It was difficult for me, because in the small town in which I lived, church functions were the major social interactions that I had with my peers and my community. Without church I had no social life

(Mr. Y personal communication February 10, 2013 ).

HOMELESSNESS
Conflict at home Survival Sex Sexual Victimization

HEALTH DISPARITIES: OT AND LGBT POPULATION


Acute traumas are debilitating, but do they have more lasting effects that the never-ending stress that becomes imbedded in ones memory and modifies ones emotions, knowledge, and perception of self? (Dorais, 2004, p. 75) Many may engage in occupations that are not meaningful to them in an attempt to fit in or mask their sexual orientation It is important for OTs to know their clients preference because this is an important client factor that is a theme throughout their life. OTs can also consult with parents of gay teens on the negative effects of rejection and oppression on their children

HEALTH DISPARITIES: CURRENT TRENDS

A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, a majority of medical schools devoted at the most only 5 hours to teaching future doctors about the LGBT population. And this education consisted mainly of the importance of asking patients about the gender of their sexual partners. A report issued by the Institute of Medicine showed that LGBT patients tend to be more isolated and have higher rates of chronic diseases like diabetes and high blood pressure. Because of the discrimination they face and fear, many also have difficulty gaining access to care and thus face and increased risk of suicide, substance abuse and unaddressed domestic violence. Just seeing the doctor can entail coming out to your physician, which can be very stressful for the patient. Risks for negative mental health include increased engagement in behaviors leading to HIV and STDs and suicide attempts. High amounts of victimization/ bullying in school

HEALTH DISPARITIES: SUICIDE RISK FACTORS


Homosexual males are 6-16 times more at risk for attempting suicide compared to heterosexual males Males experience more LBGT victimization than females Many suicide attempts were preceded by relentless bullying for being perceived as LGBT For the respondents in the book, Dead boys cant dance, many suicide attempts were a result of exhaustion and hopelessness and had little to do with psychological or mental dysfunction (i.e. depression) Parental acceptance protects again depression, substance abuse and suicide attempts Parental rejection- 3x more likely to have suicidal thoughts and attempt suicide

REFERENCES

Chen, P. W. (2011, Nov. 10). Medical schools neglect gay and gender issues. The New York Times. Retrieved fromhttp://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/10/medical-schools- teach-little-aboutgay-health-issues/ Dorais, M., & Lajeunesse, S. L. (2004). Dead boys cant dance. Quebec, Canada: McGill-Queens University Press. Hatzenbuehler M., McLaughlin, & K. Xuan, Z. (2012). Social networks and risk for depressive symptoms in a national sample of sexual minority youth. Social Science & Medicine, 75,1184- 1191. Jackson, J. (1995). Sexual Orientation: Its relevance to occupational science and the practice of occupational therapy. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 49, 669-679. Rudolph, D. (2011, May 18) New study shows that before things get better, there are consequences. Keen News Service. Retrieved from http://www.keennewsservice. com/ 2011/05/18/new-study-shows-that-before-things-get-better there-are-consequences/ Ryan, C., Huebner, D., Diaz, R.A., Sanchez, J.(2009). Family rejection as predictor of negative health outcomes in white and latino lesbian, gay, and bisexual young adults. Official Journal the American Academy of Pediatrics, 123,346-352. doi: 10.1542/peds.2007-3524 Tanner, L. (2013, February 4). Bullying study: It does get better for gay teens. Retrieved fromhttp://todayhealth.today.com/_news/2013/02/04/16838465-bullying-study-it-does-getbetter-for-gay-teens?lite
Whitbeck, L.B., Chen, X., Hoyt, D., Tyler, K., Johnson, K. (2004). Mental disorder, subsistence strategies, and victimization among gay, lesbian, and bisexual Homeless and runaway adolescents. sociology Department, Faculty Publications. Paper 53. Retrieved from http://digitalcommons.unl. edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article= 1058&context=sociologyfacpub

You might also like