School Safety Among Sexual and Gender Minority Adolescents: Implications for Eating and Weight Control Behaviors.
BACKGROUND
Unhealthy weight control and disordered eating behaviors are prevalent among adolescents who identify as a gender and/or sexual minority (SGM). The current study examined how perceptions of school safety contribute to reduced negative weight control and eating behaviors across adolescents with diverse sexual and gender identities.


METHODS
Data on perceptions of school safety, as well as negative weight control and disordered eating behaviors (ie, binge eating, eating to cope), were drawn from a large national sample of SGM secondary school students (ie, grades 7-12; N = 17,112; LGBTQ National Teen Survey).


RESULTS
Differences in negative weight control and disordered eating behaviors emerged as a function of gender identity and sexual orientation. School safety was significantly associated with fewer negative weight control behaviors (B = -0.30, p < .001), reduced binge eating (B = -0.19, p < .001), and less eating to cope (B = -0.21, p < .001). Despite slight variation in the strength of these associations, the protective effects of school safety were significant across sexual and gender identities.


CONCLUSIONS
Findings suggest that efforts to support feelings of school safety among SGM students are likely to have positive implications for eating and weight-related behaviors, and emphasize the need for interventions to promote climates of safety and inclusion within the school setting.
['Lessard|Leah M|LM|0000-0002-0129-7518', 'Wang|Ethan Y|EY|', 'Watson|Ryan J|RJ|']
D000293:Adolescent D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders D005260:Female D005783:Gender Identity D015438:Health Behavior D006801:Humans D008297:Male D012574:Schools D012725:Sexual Behavior D000072339:Sexual and Gender Minorities
school safety sexual and gender minority adolescence unhealthy weight control eating behaviors