LGB Students and School Sports: A Positive Youth Development Approach

• In Event: Understanding Student-Athlete Identities and Experiences

Abstract

This study investigates whether the relationship between participation in school-organized sports and youth development is similar for both heterosexual students and those who identify as gay, lesbian, or bisexual. Utilizing a survey of 72,004 high schoolers, results suggest sports participation enhances a sense of support and developmental skill for gay or lesbian students in a similar manner to heterosexual students, but the association is more moderate for bisexual students. Despite offering some benefits to LGB students, sports participation was associated with greater developmental challenges for LGB athletes as compared to LGB non-athletes instead of fewer challenges as experienced by their heterosexual athlete and non-athlete counterparts.

Authors

• Kyle Nickodem, University of Minnesota

• Martin Van Boekel, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

• Luke Stanke, University of Minnesota

• Jose R. Palma Zamora, University of Minnesota

• Kory Vue, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

• Okan Bulut, University of Alberta

• Youngsoon Kang, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

• Yu-Feng Chang, University of Minnesota

• Michael C. Rodriguez, University of Minnesota