Examining the Experiences of LGB Students Using the ACHA-NCHA Todd M. Smith December 1, 2006

Results from Spring 2003 NYU Amer. College Health Assoc. National College Health Assessment  Survey addresses health, risk and protective behaviors, behavioral consequences and perceptions of college students  First year NYU students  1,025 surveys returned  Average age 18.5 years  70% female, 30% male

LGB Data  11% of respondents self-identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or unsure (n=109)  Pulled out LGB and Unsure respondents’ data to compare to heterosexual peers  Limitation: Question asked student to choose which best described them: Heterosexual, Gay/Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgendered, or Unsure. ‘Transgender’ is a gender identity and not a sexual orientation – no students chose ‘Transgendered’. This identity should be placed with Male and Female.

Doing the Math! Percentages for LGBT respondents are given on LGBT data report. Data on general report includes all respondents – LGBT and Heterosexual. To find Heterosexual-only data, need to subtract LGBT numbers from the general report numbers. (Could also request Heterosexual-only report to eliminate need to find statistics!) We found it useful to keep data on men and women separate as there were many differences along gender lines.

Doing the Math!  To find heterosexual-only data, choose a specific answer to a survey question and use the following formula: (Total # of female responses to answer) – (# of LB responses to answer) DIVIDED BY (Total # of female responses to question) – (Total # of LB responses to question)

What was found……  We found many similarities between LGB students and their Heterosexual peers.  We also found some striking differences particularly in the areas of mental health, safety, substance use, and sexual behavior.

General Health Considering your age, how would you describe your general health? Responses of Excellent, Very Good, or Good:  Heterosexual men:94%  Gay & Bisexual men:91%  Heterosexual women:92%  Lesbian & Bisexual women:87%

Within the past school year, were you…. In a physical fightPhysically Assaulted  Heterosexual men: 14%5%  Gay & Bisexual men:6%8%  Heterosexual women:4%4%  Lesbian & Bisexual women:7%4% Safety

Safety  In the past year, have you received unwanted phone calls that made you feel unsafe? Hetero Men:7% GB Men:13% Hetero Women:23% LB Women:44%

Safety Within the last school year have you experienced: Verbal threats for sex against your will? YES:  Heterosexual men: 4%  Gay & Bisexual men: 2%  Heterosexual women: 10%  Lesbian & Bisexual women: 20%

Safety Within the last school year have you experienced: Sexual touching against your will? YES:  Heterosexual men: 7%  Gay & Bisexual men: 19%  Heterosexual women: 18%  Lesbian & Bisexual women: 26%

Safety Within the last school year have you experienced: Attempted sexual penetration against your will? YES:  Heterosexual men: 1%  Gay & Bisexual men: 7%  Heterosexual women: 5%  Lesbian & Bisexual women: 9%

Safety Within the last school year have you experienced: Sexual penetration against your will? YES:  Heterosexual men: <1%  Gay & Bisexual men: 4%  Heterosexual women: 2%  Lesbian & Bisexual women: 6%

Safety Within the last school year have you been in a relationship that was: Emotionally PhysicallySexually Abusive? Abusive?Abusive? Abusive? Abusive?Abusive?YES:  Hetero men: 14% 2% 2%  GB men: 17% 2% 0%  Hetero women: 18% 1% 1%  LB women: 28% 4% 6%

Substance Use  Within the last 30 days, how many days did you use Cigarettes? 1-9 days days 1-9 days days  Heterosexual men: 12%13%  GB men: 11%20%  Heterosexual women:15%11%  LB women: 19%30%

Substance Use  Within the last 30 days, how many days did you use Alcohol? Never 1-9 days days  Heterosexual men: 14%57%14%  GB men: 17%61%11%  Heterosexual women:20%53%9%  LB women:8%51%25%

Substance Use  Within the last 30 days, how many days did you use Marijuana? Never 1-5 days 6-29 days  Heterosexual men: 54%16%15%  GB men: 48%15%11%  Heterosexual women: 56%15%7%  LB women: 33%28%22%

Substance Use  Within the past 30 days, on how many days did you use….. (NEVER responses) CocaineAmphetamines Other drugs  Hetero men: 95% 93% 86%  GB men: 93% 87% 80%  Hetero women: 94% 87% 91%  LB women: 82% 80% 72%

Consequences of Drinking  If you drink alcohol, within the last school year, have you done the following as a consequence of your drinking? YES: Injured Self Regret ForgotUnprot.Sex YES: Injured Self Regret ForgotUnprot.Sex  Heterosexual men: 12%33%28% 12%  GB men: 13% 36%30% 9%  Heterosexual women: 14%31%23% 6%  LB women: 32% 44% 35%17%

Sexual Partners  Within the past school year, with how many partners, if any, have you had sex (oral, vaginal, anal)?  Heterosexual men: 41% 53%6%  GB men: 28% 46%26%  Heterosexual women: 41% 55%4%  LB women: 13% 74%13%

Sexual Partners  Within the last school year, with how many partners, if any, have you had sex (oral, vaginal, or anal)?  All men average:1.64  GB men average:2.74  All women average:1.29  LB women average:2.37

Relationship Status  What is your current relationship status? SingleIn A Relationship Heterosexual Men: 72%28% GB Men: 81%19% Heterosexual Women: 72%28% LB Women: 63%37%

Condom Use  Of those who have had (oral, vaginal, anal) sex, the following report having used a condom the last time they had sex: Oral VaginalAnal  Heterosexual men: 5% 69%47%  GB men: 2% 42%53%  Heterosexual women: 3% 62%29%  LB women: 0% 64%9%

HIV Testing  Have you ever been tested for HIV infection? YES:  Heterosexual Men:12%  GB Men:32%  Heterosexual Women:15%  LB Women:39%

Credit Card Debt  If you have credit cards, how much total credit debt did you carry last month? More than $100 debt carried:  Heterosexual men:8%  GB men:23%  Heterosexual women:7%  LB women:20%

Grades  What is your approximate cumulative grade average? A B A B –Heterosexual Men:40%54% –GB Men:41%56% –Heterosexual Women:38%57% –LB Women:35%62%

Health How would you describe your weight? Underweight:  Heterosexual Men: 17%Heterosexual Women: 12%  GB Men: 30%LB Women: 4% About Right:  Heterosexual Men: 54%Heterosexual Women: 54%  GB Men: 44%LB Women: 57% Overweight:  Heterosexual Men: 29%Heterosexual Women: 34%  GB Men: 26%LB Women: 39%

Health Are you trying to do any of the following about your weight? Lose weight:  Heterosexual Men: 36%Heterosexual Women: 65%  GB Men: 39%LB Women: 61% Gain weight:  Heterosexual Men: 21%Heterosexual Women: 2%  GB Men: 13%LB Women: 0%

Health Average Body Weight: All Men: GB Men: All Women: LB Women:144.13

Health Within the last 30 days, have you done any of the following? Exercise:  All Men:42%All Women: 61% GB Men:35%LB Women:52% Diet:  All Men:26%All Women: 50% GB Men:35%LB Women:46% Vomit/Laxatives:  All Men:0%All Women: 7% GB Men:0%LB Women:6%

Health  Respondents reported having NOT participated in the following activities in the past 7 days: Vigorous/Moderate ExerciseStrength for 20/30 minutesTraining for 20/30 minutesTraining  Heterosexual Men: 27% 32%  GB Men: 39% 37%  Heterosexual Women:32% 41%  LB Women:46% 48%

Health  Have you had the following checked in the past ____ years ….. 2 years 5 years 2 years 5 years Blood PressureCholesterol Heterosexual Men: 90% 52% GB Men: 85% 42% Heterosexual Women: 93% 50% LB Women: 83% 44%

Health Within the last school year, have you had any of the following?(in %) AnorexiaAnx. Dis. Depression S.A.D. Sub.AbuseProblemStrep Throat Hetero Men: GB Men: Hetero Women: LB Women:

Health Have you ever been diagnosed with any of the following?(in %) AnorexiaAnx. Dis. Depression S.A.D. Sub.AbuseProblemStrep Throat Hetero Men: < GB Men: Hetero Women: LB Women:

Health Within the last school year, have any of the following affected your academic performance?YES responses Depression/Anxiety Drug Use Internet/Computer Use Hetero Men:17%5%29% GB Men:24%4%20% Hetero Women:23%3%19% LB Women:30%11%22%

Mental Health Within the last school year, how many times have you felt things were hopeless? Never:  Heterosexual Men:35%Heterosexual Women:24%  GB Men:20%LB Women:13% 1-4 Times:  Heterosexual Men: 36%Heterosexual Women: 39%  GB Men: 44%LB Women: 48% 5-10 Times:  Heterosexual Men: 16%Heterosexual Women: 21%  GB Men: 7%LB Women: 15% 11 or more Times:  Heterosexual Men: 14%Heterosexual Women: 16%  GB Men: 19%LB Women: 24%

Mental Health Within the last school year, how many times have you felt so depressed that it was difficult to function? Never:  Heterosexual Men:46%Heterosexual Women:42%  GB Men:37%LB Women:32% 1-4 Times:  Heterosexual Men: 35%Heterosexual Women: 33%  GB Men: 37%LB Women: 35% 5-10 Times:  Heterosexual Men: 12%Heterosexual Women: 13%  GB Men: 11%LB Women: 19% 11 or more Times:  Heterosexual Men: 8%Heterosexual Women: 12%  GB Men: 15%LB Women: 15%

Mental Health Within the last school year, how many times have you seriously considered attempting suicide? 1-4 Times:  Heterosexual Men: 12%Heterosexual Women: 12%  GB Men: 23%LB Women: 15% 5-10 Times:  Heterosexual Men: 3%Heterosexual Women: 2%  GB Men: 0%LB Women: 6% 11 or more Times:  Heterosexual Men: 0%Heterosexual Women: 1%  GB Men: 2%LB Women: 4%

Mental Health Within the last school year, how many times have you attempted suicide? 1-2 times:  Heterosexual Men:1%  GB Men:6%  Heterosexual Women:1%  LB Women:6%

Mental Health Have you ever been diagnosed with depression? YES: Heterosexual men: 7% GB men: 17% Heterosexual women: 14% LB women: 43%

Mental Health If you have ever been diagnosed with depression, were you diagnosed within the last school year? YES: Heterosexual men: 47% GB men: 67% Heterosexual women: 48% LB women: 41%

Mental Health If you have ever been diagnosed with depression, are you currently in therapy? YES: Heterosexual men: 35% GB men: 22% Heterosexual women: 32% LB women: 35%

Mental Health In a personal crisis, to whom would you turn for support?  LGB students are slightly more likely to turn to friends and somewhat less likely to turn to family.  Heterosexual men are less likely to turn to a therapist.  LGB students are significantly less likely to turn to a member of the clergy.  LGB students are more likely to turn to the internet.

What we can do next…. –Create a committee to compile data and assess atmosphere for LGBT students on campus. –Assess information to consider outreach strategies to LGBT population. –Provide a victim’s advocate in the public safety office, trained in the particular needs of LGBT people. –Provide training on LGBT issues and concerns and anti-LGBT violence for public safety officers, health center staff, counseling staff, and others.

Discussion What NYU did with this information: –Presented to Student Affairs Staff –Worked with Health Center –Created Transgender Health Brochure –Designed discussion topics for LGBT Office programs