Sexually and gender minoritized adolescents’ experiences with gender-sexuality alliances, victimization, and wellbeing: Variations by political context

Sexually and gender-minoritized (SGM) adolescents report elevated rates of victimization in schools, which can negatively affect their wellbeing. One school-based resource that could benefit the wellbeing of SGM adolescents is Gender-Sexuality Alliances (GSAs). Experiences in GSAs and with victimization may vary based on the school’s local political context. We explored whether a school’s local political context was associated with SGM adolescents’ levels of victimization, experiences in their GSA (social-emotional support, leadership experiences, and peer responsiveness), and their wellbeing (positive affect, negative affect, and hope). Additionally, we explored whether the local political context moderated the association between GSA experiences and wellbeing, and victimization and wellbeing. We analyzed data collected in the 2021 and 2022 school year from 451 SGM GSA members (49 GSAs; M age = 14.96, SD = 1.64). The school’s local political context was based on the precinct-level returns of the 2020 U.S. election. In more politically conservative school contexts, participants reported a lower sense of hope, lower positive affect, higher rates of victimization, and perceived less peer responsiveness in the GSA. Regarding moderation, sensitivity analyses indicated that in conservative contexts, rates of negative affect were high regardless of victimization rates. In liberal contexts, greater rates of victimization were associated with higher rates of negative affect. Together, this study shows how the local political context is associated with SGM adolescents’ experiences at school and their wellbeing. Our findings add to calls for more ecologically holistic approaches to identify factors that contribute to SGM adolescents’ school experiences and wellbeing.