Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Student School Engagement Among Sexual Minority Students: Understanding The Contributors To Predicting Academic Outcomes, Kristie Seelman, N. Walls, Cynthia Hazel, Hope Wisneski

Kristie L Seelman

Hierarchical multiple regression is used to examine whether student school engagement predicts grade point average (GPA) and fear-based truancy among 315 sexual minority youth aged 13 to 24 years. Results indicate that student school engagement is a significant predictor of GPA, and this relationship is strongest in the presence of a gay–straight alliance. Having an adult ally at school is associated with a decrease in fear-based truancy, while student school engagement predicts a decrease in fear-based truancy only for youth who have higher levels of subjective fear at school. Implications for future research and for practice among school-based helping professionals …