TABLE 1—
Characteristics of the Total Sample and by Sexual Orientation (n = 1870): The 4-H Positive Youth Development Study, United States, 2007–2008
| Characteristic | Total Sample (n = 1870), No. (%) or Mean ±SD | Heterosexual (n = 1664), No. (%) or Mean ±SD | Sexual Minority (n = 127), No. (%) or Mean ±SD | No Attraction (n = 79), No. (%) or Mean ±SD |
| Gender | ||||
| Female | 1202 (64.3) | 1042 (62.6) | 92 (72.4)a,b | 68 (86.1)c |
| Male | 668 (35.7) | 622 (37.4) | 35 (27.6) | 11 (13.9) |
| Grade | ||||
| 7 | 40 (2.1) | 30 (1.8) | 3 (2.4)a,b | 7 (8.9)c |
| 8 | 203 (10.9) | 179 (10.8) | 7 (5.5) | 17 (21.5) |
| 9 | 396 (21.2) | 358 (21.5) | 16 (12.6) | 22 (27.8) |
| 10 | 825 (44.1) | 734 (44.1) | 66 (52.0) | 25 (31.7) |
| 11 | 281 (15.0) | 251 (15.1) | 24 (18.9) | 6 (7.6) |
| 12 | 125 (6.7) | 112 (6.7) | 11 (8.7) | 2 (2.5) |
| Race/ethnicity | ||||
| White | 1476 (78.9) | 1318 (79.2) | 92 (72.4) | 66 (83.5) |
| Black | 117 (6.3) | 105 (6.3) | 8 (6.3) | 4 (5.1) |
| Hispanic | 119 (6.4) | 103 (6.2) | 13 (10.2) | 3 (3.8) |
| Other | 158 (8.4) | 138 (8.3) | 14 (11.0) | 6 (7.6) |
| Response method | ||||
| After-school program | 1163 (62.2) | 1040 (62.5) | 63 (49.6)a,b | 60 (75.9) |
| School | 426 (22.8) | 379 (22.8) | 37 (29.1) | 10 (12.7) |
| Internet | 233 (12.5) | 206 (12.4) | 19 (15.0) | 8 (10.1) |
| 48 (2.6) | 39 (2.3) | 8 (6.3) | 1 (1.3) | |
| Bullying victimization | ||||
| No | 1630 (87.2) | 1465 (88.0) | 97 (76.4)a | 68 (86.1) |
| Yes | 240 (12.8) | 199 (12.0) | 30 (23.6) | 11 (13.9) |
| Competence | 72.6 ±16.5 | 72.9 ±16.4 | 68.0 ±17.6a,b | 74.6 ±16.2 |
| Confidence | 66.7 ±18.7 | 67.2 ±18.5 | 59.9 ±20.6a,b | 68.9 ±17.8 |
| Connection | 68.1 ±14.9 | 68.4 ±14.7 | 62.7 ±15.2a,b | 72.2 ±14.7c |
| Character | 2.0 ±15.4 | 71.9 ±15.3 | 69.8 ±16.2b | 79.1 ±12.2c |
| Caring/compassion | 74.5 ±18.4 | 74.3 ±18.4 | 74.1 ±19.2 | 78.1 ±16.2 |
Notes. 4-H = head, heart, hands, and health. Heterosexuals reported opposite-gender attractions only. Sexual-minority youths reported both-gender attractions or same-gender attractions only. To derive P values, we used the 2-sample t test for continuous variables and the χ2 test for categorical variables.
a
P < .05 for sexual-minority youths compared with heterosexual youths.
b
P < .05 for sexual-minority youths compared with nonattracted youths.
c
P < .05 for heterosexual youths compared with nonattracted youths.