Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 5, 2026

Involving Individuals with Developmental Language Disorder and Their Parents/Carers in Research Priority Setting
Published on: June 6, 2020
LGBTQ Youth-Serving Community-Based Organizations: Who Participates and What Difference Does it Make?
Jessica N Fish1, Raymond L Moody2, Arnold H Grossman3
1Department of Family Science, School of Public Health, University of Maryland, 1142 Valley Drive, College Park, MD, 20742, USA. jnfish@umd.edu.
LGBTQ youth participating in community organizations show better mental health and substance use outcomes. These community-based organizations are vital, yet underutilized, resources for promoting health in lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer youth.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Sociology
- Adolescent Health
Background:
- Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) youth face significant health disparities.
- Large-scale health promotion programs for LGBTQ youth are underdeveloped.
- LGBTQ community-based organizations (CBOs) offer crucial support but are under-researched in health literature.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify characteristics of LGBTQ youth participating in LGBTQ CBOs.
- To examine the association between participation in LGBTQ CBOs and mental health and substance use.
- To assess the role of LGBTQ CBOs in promoting LGBTQ youth health.
Main Methods:
- A contemporary sample of 1045 LGBTQ youth aged 15-21 was analyzed.
- Data collected included demographics, participation in LGBTQ CBOs, and self-reported mental health and substance use.
- Statistical analyses examined predictors of participation and associations with health outcomes.
Main Results:
- Participants in LGBTQ CBOs were more likely to be assigned male at birth, transgender, youth of color, and eligible for free/reduced lunch.
- Participation in LGBTQ CBOs was associated with improved concurrent and longitudinal mental health.
- Participation was also linked to reduced substance use over time.
Conclusions:
- LGBTQ CBOs serve diverse and often marginalized subgroups of LGBTQ youth.
- Participation in these organizations is linked to positive mental health and substance use trajectories.
- LGBTQ CBOs represent a valuable, yet underutilized, resource for improving the health of LGBTQ youth.
More Related Videos
10:39Qualitative and Quantitative Validation of Tools with Rating Scales Aimed at Assessing the Quality of University Service-Learning
Published on: August 29, 2025
08:53Integrating Computerized Linguistic and Social Network Analyses to Capture Addiction Recovery Capital in an Online Community
Published on: May 31, 2019
Related Concept Videos
Community Based Intervention
Foundations of Community Mental Health Programs
Central to the success of community-based interventions is the...
Impact of Groups on Individuals
Ethnic Identity within a Larger Culture
Impact of Social Context on Individuals
Impact of Individuals on a Group
Impact of Groups on Groups