TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2021//
TI  - School safety among sexual and gender minority adolescents: implications for eating and weight control behaviors
JO  - Journal of school health
A1  - Lessard, Leah M.
A1  - Wang, Ethan Y.
A1  - Watson, Ryan J.
SP  - ePub
EP  - ePub
VL  - ePub
IS  - ePub
N2  - 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. <br><br>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). <br><br>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. <br><br>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.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0022-4391
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/josh.13069
ID  - ref1
ER  -