Out at Home: Family Guide to Supporting Teen Sexual Orientation
Sexual orientation can be hard to talk about. Many people find it confusing and potentially complex. For many parents, it’s especially uncomfortable to talk about sexuality with their kids, but small steps go a long way. The team at SARAVYC has designed a resource for East Asian parents as part of our research in tracking […]
Supportive families and schools help prevent substance use among transgender youth
Trans youth in Canada face high levels of violence, and this can contribute to substance use. However, research at SARAVYC showed that even when transgender youth experience high levels of violence or discrimination, a supportive family and safe school can make a difference. Specifically, strong family and school connections are helping prevent transgender youth from […]
Risk and protective factors for transgender youths’ substance use
Abstract Research at the intersection of substance use and protective factors among transgender youth is scarce; emerging evidence suggests high risk for substance use for transgender youth. We analyzed data from 323 transgender youth aged 14–18 ( M age = 16.67) to investigate the extent that risk (enacted stigma) and protective factors (support from family, school, friends) […]
Substance Use among Sexual Minorities: Has it Actually Gotten Better?
Abstract Despite efforts to decrease substance use, rates among sexual minority youth (SMY) remain higher than among heterosexuals. Substance use is a leading contributor to morbidity and mortality in adulthood, and SMY’s use of substances is related to poorer mental and emotional health. We sought to document the trends in substance use for a large […]
Being Safe, Being Me in British Columbia: Results of the Canadian Trans Youth Health Survey
The Canadian Trans Youth Health Survey was a national online survey conducted by researchers from several Canadian universities and community organizations. The survey included somewhat different questions for younger (14-18 years) and older (19-25 years) trans youth about a wide range of life experiences and behaviours that influence young people’s health. This report is focused […]
Unhealthy weight control behaviors among youth: Sex of sexual partner is linked to important differences
Abstract Unhealthy weight control behaviors (UWCBs) have been decreasing for most youth over time, yet little is known whether these behaviors have changed for sexual minority (e.g., non-heterosexual) youth. This is important because many studies have found that sexual minorities report some of the highest rates of UWCBs. To determine whether or not these behaviors […]
Being Safe, Being Me in the Atlantic Provinces: Results of the Canadian Trans Youth Health Survey
The Canadian Trans Youth Health Survey was a national online survey conducted by researchers from several Canadian universities and community organizations. This report specifically examines trans youth located in the Atlantic Provinces. The survey included 122 participants from the Atlantic Provinces and used somewhat different questions for younger (14-18 years) and older (19-25 years) trans […]
Sexual minority youth continue to smoke cigarettes earlier and more often than heterosexuals: Findings from population-based data
Abstract Background: An established body of research documents that sexual minority (i.e., lesbian, gay, and bisexual) populations are at higher risk for several adverse health behaviors and outcomes compared to their heterosexual counterparts. Smoking is one behavior where the gap is especially large, particularly among youth. Researchers have increasingly drawn attention to contextual determinants of […]
Being Safe, Being Me in the Prairie Provinces: Results of the Canadian Trans Youth Health Survey in Saskatchewan & Manitoba
This regional report is a part of a larger project, The Canadian Trans Youth Health Survey. Researchers from universities and other organizations in Canada created the survey, which was administered online to 923 participants across Canada, with 67 respondents coming from the Prairie Provinces (Saskatchewan & Manitoba). Two different surveys were distributed: one to younger […]
Being Safe, Being Me in Alberta: Results of the Canadian Trans Youth Health Survey
The Canadian Trans Youth Health Survey was a national online survey conducted by researchers from several Canadian universities and community organizations. This report is focused specifically on trans youth who live in Alberta, who made up 12% of the total respondents nation-wide. The survey included somewhat different questions for younger (14-18 years) and older (19-25 […]
