Family support, school-age and workplace bullying for LGB people

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine associations between: family support during the school-age period, and school-age bullying (short-term associations); and family support during the school-age period and workplace bullying (long-term associations) for lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) adults in Britain. Design/methodology/approach The authors employ retrospective questions regarding family support for LGB children and school-age bullying and questions regarding workplace bullying in the respondents’ present jobs. A 2016 data set was utilized which was created by attending events during the UK LGBT History Month. Findings The empirical investigation demonstrates that supportive family environments toward LGB children reduce both school-age and workplace bullying. Practical implications Given the increasing number of people self-identifying as LGB, the significant percentages of school and workplace bullying incidents and the corresponding negative effects on people’s lives, it is important to examine the benefits of family support with regards to reducing school and workplace victimization. This study also reports that family support could have an enduring influence on the experiences of LGB children and adults. Originality/value No known research has considered the possible developmental benefits of family support on reducing future workplace bullying for LGB children. In addition, this might be the first study which simultaneously examines family support toward LGB children, school-age and workplace bullying.

Guest editorial

“…In addition, Sidiropoulou et al (2020) in this issue argue that supportive family environments towards lesbian, gay and bisexual children might positively affect long-term workplace experiences, i.e. reduced workplace bullying.…”

“…The assertion is that an accepting and welcoming environment for LGB children might ensure that they do not internalize the adverse effect of homophobic incidents. Sidiropoulou et al (2020) suggest that if LGB children have received support from their parents which has positively influenced their self-esteem, this pattern might have influenced how adult LGB people prevented, avoided and/or dealt with victimization in the workplace.…”

“…At the same time, sexual orientation and gender identity minorities continue to experience severe occupational access constraints due to distastes and stereotypes (Flage, 2020;McFadden, 2020;Drydakis, 2014aDrydakis, , 2017a. On a positive note, the newest studies have argued that marital status and family support can positively impact sexual orientation minorities' subjective well-being indicators, school and workplace experiences (Dilmaghani, 2020;Sidiropoulou et al, 2020). In addition, new studies have suggested that positive workplace actions from policymakers have a positively effect on trans peoples' self-esteem-oriented outcomes, human resources strategies, organisational behaviours amongst staff members and firms' corporate profiles (Bozani et al, 2020).…”

“…In the Special Issue, Preston et al (2020) and Martell (2020) have provided new evidence on an emerging puzzling pattern of sexual orientation and wages, while Flage (2020) has offered the first ever meta-analysis of field experiments on occupation access discrimination based on sexual orientation. Dilmaghani (2020) and Sidiropoulou et al (2020) have examined sexual orientation, life satisfaction and workplace experiences by utilizing the moderating role of marital status and family support, and the first ever literature review of in-person studies, correspondence tests and scenario experiments on occupational access discrimination based on gender identity has been conducted by McFadden (2020). In addition, Van Borm et al (2020), Cannonier and Galloway Burke (2020) and Bozani et al (2020) have evaluated how distastes, stereotypes and positive workplace actions could moderate trans people's labour market outcomes.…”

Trans People, Transitioning, Mental Health, Life, and Job Satisfaction

“…The stage of accepting a trans identity, the initiation of transitioning, the duration of transitioning and the end of transitioning are supposed to be affected by a plethora of factors. These include personal desires, family, network and societal approval and support, socioeconomic conditions, accessible and affordable transitioning resources, medical treatments, high-quality health services and institutional frameworks (Bozani et al, 2019;Sidiropoulou et al, 2019;Tebbe et al, 2019;OECD, 2019;Webster et al, 2018;Köllen, 2016;Reisner et al, 2016;Drydakis, 2017a;b, 2016;Bockting et al, 2016;Costa and Colizzi, 2016;Dhejne et al, 2016;White Hughto and Reisner, 2016;Schmidt, and Levine, 2015;White Hughto et al, 2015;Gijs, and Brewaeys, 2007;Michel et al, 2002). Similarly, decisions on medical interventions and changes in identity documents which can determine the stages which trans people pass through are supposed to be determined by a vector of factors consisting of trans people's desires, socioeconomic conditions, supportive environments and legal frameworks (OECD, 2019;Drydakis, 2017a;b, 2016;Köllen, 2016;Sevelius, 2013;Imbimbo et al, 2009).…”