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Health risks among discordant heterosexual high school students
Christopher R Harper1, Heather B Clayton1, Jack Andrzejewski2
1Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Adolescent and School Health, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
Journal of LGBT Youth
|March 11, 2024
Summary
Heterosexual youth having sex with same-sex partners, termed discordant heterosexuals, face higher health risks. This highlights the need for tailored interventions for this understudied group.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Adolescent Health
- Sexual Health
Background:
- Limited data exists on health risks among heterosexual youth who engage in sexual contact with same-sex partners in the U.S.
- This specific group, termed discordant heterosexuals, remains understudied in public health research.
- Understanding their unique risk profiles is crucial for targeted health interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the prevalence of health risks between discordant heterosexual youth and other sexual identity groups.
- To identify specific risk behaviors that are more common in discordant heterosexual adolescents.
- To inform clinical practice regarding risk assessments for diverse adolescent populations.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the 2015 national Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS).
- Compared health risk behaviors across four groups: discordant heterosexual, heterosexual (only opposite-sex contact), lesbian/gay, and bisexual students.
- Analyzed the prevalence of various risk behaviors within these defined groups.
Main Results:
- Approximately 3.2% of students surveyed were identified as discordant heterosexuals.
- Discordant heterosexual students exhibited a significantly higher prevalence of several risk behaviors compared to heterosexual students with only opposite-sex sexual contact.
- Significant differences in risk behavior prevalence were observed between discordant heterosexuals and their exclusively heterosexual peers.
Conclusions:
- Clinicians must consider both sexual identity and the sex of sexual partners during risk assessments.
- Discordant heterosexual youth represent a population requiring specific attention for health interventions.
- Integrating sexual behavior assessment into routine care can improve health outcomes for adolescents.
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