Safer spaces in youth development programs and health in Canadian youth.

This article examines the relationship between perceived safety in youth development programs, minoritized status—including LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning) identity and perceived income level—and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and psychosomatic health complaints among Canadian youth participants. The study found that LGBTQ youth and those with lower perceived income reported lower HRQoL and higher psychosomatic complaints compared to their peers, while youth who perceived their programs as safer reported better HRQoL and fewer health complaints. However, program safety did not moderate health outcomes for LGBTQ or lower income youth, and appeared to benefit higher income youth more strongly. The findings highlight the importance of safer spaces in youth programs for promoting well-being across diverse youth populations, while also indicating the need for targeted strategies to address persistent inequities affecting marginalized groups.