A Systematic Review: The Influence of School Factors on LGBTQ Secondary Education Students’ Mental Health

Scherpenhuizen, Cloë (2024) A Systematic Review: The Influence of School Factors on LGBTQ Secondary Education Students’ Mental Health. Master thesis, Psychology.

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Abstract

Background: Adolescence is a period of heightened vulnerability for possible psychological problems for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning (LGBTQ) individuals. The school is an important environment in adolescent life and can influence the well-being of their students in several ways. The primary goal of this review was to analyse the existing literature to answer the question: Which school factors are associated with the mental health outcomes of LGBTQ secondary education students? Methods: Electronic searches were carried out in November 2023 in the databases PsycInfo, ERIC, and MEDLINE using several inclusion criteria. Data was collected and then presented in multiple tables and figures. Results: A final 20 scientific studies and three reports were included. A total of 34 school factors were grouped into six categories. Most evidence was found for the category ‘school bullying or victimization’, which had a negative effect on the mental health outcomes of LGBTQ students. The categories ‘supportive school environment’, ‘supportive teachers’, and ‘participation in school sports or club activities’ had a positive impact on the mental health outcomes of LGBTQ students. Less evidence was found for the importance of the categories ‘supportive school resources or policies’ and ‘Gender Sexuality Alliances’ for the mental health outcomes of LGBTQ students. Discussion: Several limitations of this review need to be taken into account, such as the use of the search string, the inclusion criteria and the choice to include certain studies, and the (face-value) categorisation of the variables. The findings of this review may hold practical implications for policy makers, school boards, and school staff.

Item Type:	Thesis (Master)
Supervisor name:	Roest, A.M.
Degree programme:	Psychology
Differentiation route:	Ontwikkelingspsychologie (O) [Master Psychology]
Date Deposited:	15 Feb 2024 09:43
Last Modified:	15 Feb 2024 09:43
URI:	http://gmwpublic.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/3114

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