The Emotional Well-Being of Asian-American Sexual Minority Youth in School

This study examined family and school correlates of emotional distress among Asian-American sexual minority youth in the Midwestern United States. Responses from 91 predominantly Hmong Asian-American youth who participated in a state-wide, school-based census survey and reported recent same-gender sexual activity were analyzed. Results showed that sexual minority youth who perceived lower levels of family caring and those with negative perceptions of school climate reported lower self-esteem, which in turn was associated with greater emotional distress. These results highlight the importance of safe and caring environments, and culturally sensitive support for Asian-American sexual minority adolescents.