High schools with anti-homophobia policies and gay-straight alliances tend to have lower rates of alcohol and substance abuse, according to a study published by researchers at the University of British Columbia (UBC).
The federally-funded study, published in the Journal of Preventive Medicine in August, identified the types of policies and programs that help reduce stigma in schools and “promote resilience among LGBTQ youth,” according to Elizabeth Saewyc, the study’s senior researcher.
Saewyc, a professor in UBC’s nursing department, said researchers used a large-scale population-based survey, sampling schools from almost all school districts in B.C. She said the study included over 21,000 students in Grades 8-12.
“Essentially, we compared schools with [gay-straight alliances] that had been in place awhile, those that had been established more recently, and schools that did not have [gay-straight alliances], and looked at students’ problem substance use behaviours,” Saewyc said via email.
The study’s findings showed that lesbian and bisexual girls had lower odds of alcohol and substance abuse in schools with longer-established alliances and anti-homophobia policies in place for at least three years.
The study also showed lower rates of alcohol and substance abuse among heterosexual males, though there was no significant effect on gay and bisexual boys.
Saewyc said it is impossible to know why.
“It could be an issue of statistical power, that we just didn’t have enough gay and bisexual boys in schools with longer established policies or [gay-straight alliances] to detect an effect, or it could be that these types of interventions don’t influence their drinking behaviours, although they may have different effects on other health issues for gay and bisexual boys,” Saewyc said.
Students who are bullied for being thought of as gay, lesbian, or bisexual often identify as straight, and these anti-homophobic interventions in schools may reduce harassment for them as well, according to the study.
“Our findings should provide reassurance that these kinds of policies and programs have benefits for all students, including heterosexual ones,” Saewyc said.
For Simon Mills, a student at Western University, he said having a gay-straight alliance at his high school was an important factor in his decision to come out as gay.
“Having it there showed me that the school was trying to create a safe space and showed me that the faculty and staff were supporting me,” Mills said. “When I needed help I could go to staff members knowing that it was safe space, because they had shown that they were supporting me by supporting this club.”
Erica Butler, the programming director of Carleton’s Gender and Sexuality Resource Centre (GSRC), said Carleton’s anti-discrimination policies are clear, but not all people are aware of them or choose to abide by them.
“I believe that education and action are more important than written policy, so campaigns and workshops are great steps towards developing safer spaces on campus,” Butler said.
The GSRC partners with Carleton’s Equity Services to offer safe space training to staff and students, though Butler said she would like to see faculty involved as well.
“Policies are important in that they set clear standards, but it takes action in terms of prevention and not just punishment to actually create inclusivity,” Butler said.
“I think the more education that’s happening, the better campus space will be and the likelihood of healthy coping strategies will increase.”
