Adolescent Sexual Orientation and Developmental Transition in Emerging Adulthood: Disparities in School, Work, Residence, and Transportation

Purpose: To examine associations between adolescent sexual minority status and developmental transitions in school, work, residence, and transportation 5 years later.

Method: We analyzed data from Waves 2 (Mean age = 17.2) and 7 (Mean age = 22.6) of the NEXT Generation Health Study (n = 2,000). Relative risks were estimated using Poisson regressions.

Results: Relative to heterosexual females, sexual minority females were more likely to report not attending school (relative risk [RR] = 1.27, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.02, 1.59), not anticipating college completion (RR = 1.60, 95% CI = 1.27, 2.01), and not having a driver's license (RR = 2.64, 95% CI 1.38, 5.05) at Wave 7. Relative to heterosexual males, sexual minority males were more likely to report living in three or more places in the past year (RR = 2.98, 95% CI = 1.31, 6.76).

Conclusions: Adolescent sexual minority status predicted worse educational outcomes among females and more unstable living environment among males.