Gender and sexual identity-based inequalities in adolescent wellbeing: findings from the #BeeWell Study

This study examines wellbeing inequalities relating to gender and sexual identity among adolescents from Greater Manchester, UK. 37,978 adolescents (aged 12-15) completed surveys assessing wellbeing across hedonic, eudaimonic, and complete state frameworks. Results show substantially greater wellbeing inequalities related to gender and sexual identity than other characteristics like socioeconomic status. Largest disparities were between gender-diverse adolescents and boys, and between sexual minority youth and heterosexual peers. Variations were also observed across different wellbeing domains, with larger disparities in distress than mental wellbeing for certain groups. The findings highlight the urgent need for improved prevention and intervention efforts targeting gender-diverse and sexual minority youth.

Jose Marquez, Neil Humphrey, Louise Black, Megan Cutts, Devi Khanna