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Health Literacy among Sexual and Gender-Diverse Adolescents in New York City

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Title: Health Literacy among Sexual and Gender-Diverse Adolescents in New York City
Language: English
Authors: Abby Marshall, Grace Mackson, Farnaz Kaighobadi, Neal D. Hoffman (ORCID 0000-0003-0756-176X), Adam Ciarleglio, Theo G. M. Sandfort (ORCID 0000-0002-4986-1739)
Source: Health Education & Behavior. 2025 52(3):289-298.
Availability: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 10
Publication Date: 2025
Sponsoring Agency: National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) (DHHS/PHS)
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) (DHHS/NIH)
Contract Number: R01DA041065
P30MH043520
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Tests/Questionnaires
Education Level: High Schools
Secondary Education
Descriptors: Health, Knowledge Level, Health Behavior, LGBTQ People, Gender Identity, Sexual Orientation, Predictor Variables, High School Students, Decision Making, Student Attitudes, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Self Efficacy, Civil Rights, Comparative Analysis, Sexuality
Geographic Terms: New York (New York)
DOI: 10.1177/10901981241307616
ISSN: 1090-1981
1552-6127
Abstract: This study explored sexual orientation and gender identity as predictors of health literacy among adolescents attending New York City (NYC) public high schools. Many studies have demonstrated disparities in sexual health among sexual and gender minority (SGM) adolescents. However, little is known about their health literacy. Health literacy, defined as the capacity to acquire, understand, appraise, and apply health information, especially in health decision-making, is a known predictor of health. Data came from a quantitative cross-sectional survey (N = 1,438) collected at 15 high schools in the Bronx, NYC. Four aspects of health literacy were explored: (1) knowledge of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), (2) knowledge of sexual health rights in New York State, (3) health access literacy and self-efficacy, and (4) health communication. Linear regression analysis was used to test predictors of health literacy. Contrary to our hypothesis, SGM adolescents did not score significantly lower on the health literacy variables compared with cisgender heterosexual adolescents. SGM adolescents scored significantly higher on knowledge of STIs and knowledge of health rights compared with cisgender heterosexual young men. Adolescents who were questioning their sexual identity scored significantly lower compared with both SGM and cisgender heterosexual adolescents on all four health literacy scales. Interventions are needed to ensure that in-school curricula are inclusive and address health literacy among questioning adolescents and cisgender heterosexual young men. Addressing the health needs of questioning adolescents is particularly important because adolescence is a critical time of decision-making around sexuality and health.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2025
Accession Number: EJ1471005
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  Data: Health Literacy among Sexual and Gender-Diverse Adolescents in New York City
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Abby+Marshall%22">Abby Marshall</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Grace+Mackson%22">Grace Mackson</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Farnaz+Kaighobadi%22">Farnaz Kaighobadi</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Neal+D%2E+Hoffman%22">Neal D. Hoffman</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0756-176X">0000-0003-0756-176X</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Adam+Ciarleglio%22">Adam Ciarleglio</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Theo+G%2E+M%2E+Sandfort%22">Theo G. M. Sandfort</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4986-1739">0000-0002-4986-1739</externalLink>)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Health+Education+%26+Behavior%22"><i>Health Education & Behavior</i></searchLink>. 2025 52(3):289-298.
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  Data: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
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  Data: 10
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  Data: 2025
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  Data: National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) (DHHS/PHS)<br />National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) (DHHS/NIH)
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  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research<br />Tests/Questionnaires
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22High+Schools%22">High Schools</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Secondary+Education%22">Secondary Education</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Health%22">Health</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Knowledge+Level%22">Knowledge Level</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Health+Behavior%22">Health Behavior</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22LGBTQ+People%22">LGBTQ People</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Gender+Identity%22">Gender Identity</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Sexual+Orientation%22">Sexual Orientation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Predictor+Variables%22">Predictor Variables</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22High+School+Students%22">High School Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Decision+Making%22">Decision Making</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Attitudes%22">Student Attitudes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Sexually+Transmitted+Diseases%22">Sexually Transmitted Diseases</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Self+Efficacy%22">Self Efficacy</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Civil+Rights%22">Civil Rights</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Comparative+Analysis%22">Comparative Analysis</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Sexuality%22">Sexuality</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22New+York+%28New+York%29%22">New York (New York)</searchLink>
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  Data: 10.1177/10901981241307616
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  Data: 1090-1981<br />1552-6127
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
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  Data: This study explored sexual orientation and gender identity as predictors of health literacy among adolescents attending New York City (NYC) public high schools. Many studies have demonstrated disparities in sexual health among sexual and gender minority (SGM) adolescents. However, little is known about their health literacy. Health literacy, defined as the capacity to acquire, understand, appraise, and apply health information, especially in health decision-making, is a known predictor of health. Data came from a quantitative cross-sectional survey (N = 1,438) collected at 15 high schools in the Bronx, NYC. Four aspects of health literacy were explored: (1) knowledge of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), (2) knowledge of sexual health rights in New York State, (3) health access literacy and self-efficacy, and (4) health communication. Linear regression analysis was used to test predictors of health literacy. Contrary to our hypothesis, SGM adolescents did not score significantly lower on the health literacy variables compared with cisgender heterosexual adolescents. SGM adolescents scored significantly higher on knowledge of STIs and knowledge of health rights compared with cisgender heterosexual young men. Adolescents who were questioning their sexual identity scored significantly lower compared with both SGM and cisgender heterosexual adolescents on all four health literacy scales. Interventions are needed to ensure that in-school curricula are inclusive and address health literacy among questioning adolescents and cisgender heterosexual young men. Addressing the health needs of questioning adolescents is particularly important because adolescence is a critical time of decision-making around sexuality and health.
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  Data: EJ1471005
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        Value: 10.1177/10901981241307616
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 10
        StartPage: 289
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Health
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Knowledge Level
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Health Behavior
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: LGBTQ People
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Gender Identity
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      – SubjectFull: Sexual Orientation
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      – SubjectFull: Predictor Variables
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: High School Students
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      – SubjectFull: Decision Making
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      – SubjectFull: Student Attitudes
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      – SubjectFull: Sexually Transmitted Diseases
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      – SubjectFull: Self Efficacy
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      – SubjectFull: Civil Rights
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      – SubjectFull: Comparative Analysis
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      – SubjectFull: Sexuality
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: New York (New York)
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    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Health Literacy among Sexual and Gender-Diverse Adolescents in New York City
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            NameFull: Abby Marshall
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              Y: 2025
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