Factors associated with straight allies' current engagement levels within Gay-Straight Alliances

Jillian R. Scheer; V. Paul Poteat

doi:10.1016/j.appdev.2016.01.007

Factors associated with straight allies' current engagement levels within Gay-Straight Alliances

Jillian R. Scheer, V. Paul Poteat

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

Gay-Straight Alliances (GSAs) can foster action-oriented engagement among straight youth allies. The objective of the current exploratory study was to identify factors related to straight youth allies' greater engagement in GSAs. Participants included 156 straight members of 48 high school GSAs (78.2% female, M_age=15.71) who attended regional GSA conferences in 2013. The survey asked youth to report their engagement in their GSA based on multiple items, and it measured factors external to the GSA and GSA-specific experiences that could be related to GSA engagement. In an overall model with all factors as independent variables and engagement as the dependent variable, initial positive feelings after the first few GSA meetings and having more current LGBT friends emerged as the clearest contributors. This study broadens our understanding of how factors external to the GSA and GSA-specific experiences relate to straight youths' role in promoting social change through their GSA engagement.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	112-119
Number of pages	8
Journal	Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology
Volume	43
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appdev.2016.01.007
State	Published - Mar 1 2016
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Ally
Discrimination
Gay-Straight Alliance
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender
Sexual orientation
Social justice

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Developmental and Educational Psychology

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10.1016/j.appdev.2016.01.007

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title = "Factors associated with straight allies' current engagement levels within Gay-Straight Alliances",

abstract = "Gay-Straight Alliances (GSAs) can foster action-oriented engagement among straight youth allies. The objective of the current exploratory study was to identify factors related to straight youth allies' greater engagement in GSAs. Participants included 156 straight members of 48 high school GSAs (78.2% female, Mage=15.71) who attended regional GSA conferences in 2013. The survey asked youth to report their engagement in their GSA based on multiple items, and it measured factors external to the GSA and GSA-specific experiences that could be related to GSA engagement. In an overall model with all factors as independent variables and engagement as the dependent variable, initial positive feelings after the first few GSA meetings and having more current LGBT friends emerged as the clearest contributors. This study broadens our understanding of how factors external to the GSA and GSA-specific experiences relate to straight youths' role in promoting social change through their GSA engagement.",

keywords = "Ally, Discrimination, Gay-Straight Alliance, Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, Sexual orientation, Social justice",

author = "Scheer, {Jillian R.} and Poteat, {V. Paul}",

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year = "2016",

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doi = "10.1016/j.appdev.2016.01.007",

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AU - Scheer, Jillian R.

AU - Poteat, V. Paul

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N2 - Gay-Straight Alliances (GSAs) can foster action-oriented engagement among straight youth allies. The objective of the current exploratory study was to identify factors related to straight youth allies' greater engagement in GSAs. Participants included 156 straight members of 48 high school GSAs (78.2% female, Mage=15.71) who attended regional GSA conferences in 2013. The survey asked youth to report their engagement in their GSA based on multiple items, and it measured factors external to the GSA and GSA-specific experiences that could be related to GSA engagement. In an overall model with all factors as independent variables and engagement as the dependent variable, initial positive feelings after the first few GSA meetings and having more current LGBT friends emerged as the clearest contributors. This study broadens our understanding of how factors external to the GSA and GSA-specific experiences relate to straight youths' role in promoting social change through their GSA engagement.

AB - Gay-Straight Alliances (GSAs) can foster action-oriented engagement among straight youth allies. The objective of the current exploratory study was to identify factors related to straight youth allies' greater engagement in GSAs. Participants included 156 straight members of 48 high school GSAs (78.2% female, Mage=15.71) who attended regional GSA conferences in 2013. The survey asked youth to report their engagement in their GSA based on multiple items, and it measured factors external to the GSA and GSA-specific experiences that could be related to GSA engagement. In an overall model with all factors as independent variables and engagement as the dependent variable, initial positive feelings after the first few GSA meetings and having more current LGBT friends emerged as the clearest contributors. This study broadens our understanding of how factors external to the GSA and GSA-specific experiences relate to straight youths' role in promoting social change through their GSA engagement.

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KW - Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender

KW - Sexual orientation

KW - Social justice

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Factors associated with straight allies' current engagement levels within Gay-Straight Alliances

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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