Risk and Protective Factors for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Students
Each week, the Higher Education Center showcases recent developments in the field of AOD abuse and violence prevention in higher education that may include new data and resources, upcoming events and programs, funding opportunities, and learning opportunities. To see a listing of previous This Week! features, visit the This Week! archive.
April 29, 2011
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) students have unique health needs. According to a new Institute of Medicine (IOM) report, The Health of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender People: Building a Foundation for Better Understanding, clinicians and researchers are faced with incomplete information about these populations’ health status. The experiences of LGBT individuals, including college students, are shaped by factors such as race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, geographical location, age, and environment, which can have an effect on health-related behavior as well as prevention strategies.
Chapter 4 of the IOM report offers a review of existing literature regarding the relationship between issues affecting the LGBT population, such as victimization, and substance abuse. It also examines risk and protective factors, such as campus climate and resource centers.
A “Report Brief” can be found on the IOM Web site. The full study is available through the National Academies Press.