About the project
The project will for the first time in Norway provide a thorough investigation of living conditions of sexual minority youth by using large-scale, nationwide data from the “Ungdata” and “Young in Oslo” surveys. These surveys, including data from more than 100,000 senior high school students from all counties and nearly all municipalities in Norway, have recently for the first time included assessments of sexual orientation and provide a unique and timely opportunity. By exploring their experiences of mental health, health behaviors, and social relationship factors, this study will provide novel data on sexual minority youth while at the same time allowing for an investigation of how they compare to their heterosexual peers, as well as how this varies based on other sociodemographic factors and across municipalities in Norway. The project is a collaboration between PROMENTA and CENSE at the Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, NOVA at OsloMet, and FRI - Organisation for Sexual and Gender Diversity.
Objectives
We aim to gain comprehensive insights into the mental health, health behaviors, health services utilization, and social relationship factors among Norwegian sexual minority youth. Our research specifically investigates (1) whether sexual minority youth face more challenges in these arenas than majority youth; (2) whether these challenges differ across subgroups of sexual minority groups, such as gay, lesbian, bisexual, and those who are unsure or questioning their sexual identity; (3) whether sexual orientation intersectionally interacts with sociodemographic factors as gender, ethnicity and socioeconomic status; and (4) to what extent disparities between sexual minority and majority youth vary across municipalities in Norway and between neighborhoods in Oslo, and how such variations can be explained.
Background
Despite significant progress in enhancing LGBTQ+ rights in Norway, sexual minority groups continue to face substantial challenges across multiple domains. A recent Norwegian survey reveals persistent negative attitudes towards LGBTQ+ people, and sexual minority youth experience notably higher rates of bullying, harassment, and violence than their heterosexual peers. Moreover, the term "gay" has been frequently used as an insult by Norwegian schoolchildren. International research suggests that sexual minorities generally show poorer mental health outcomes, engage in riskier health behaviors, and encounter greater social difficulties than their heterosexual counterparts. These trends may be prevalent in Norway as well, yet there has been a lack of comprehensive, nationwide research addressing the living conditions of sexual minorities—a gap highlighted by the Norwegian government’s Action Plan on Gender and Sexual Diversity. Such data are crucial for interventions aimed at improving the living conditions of sexual minorities and addressing inequalities in health and quality of life. The study of these issues is particularly important during adolescence, a critical period for the development of sexual identity.
