Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Adolescent School Victimization: Implications for Young Adult Health and Adjustment

Abstract

Reducing LGBT-related school victimization will likely result in significant long-term health gains and will reduce health disparities for LGBT people. Reducing the dramatic disparities for LGBT youth should be educational and public health priorities.

Sexual orientation trends and disparities in school bullying and violence-related experiences, 1999–2013.

“…More specifically, numerous studies have linked the higher rates of victimization experienced by sexual minority youth to poorer mental health, depression, and suicidal ideation and attempts (Bontempo & D'Augelli, 2002;D'Augelli, Pilkington, & Hershberger, 2002;Duong & Bradshaw, 2014;Goodenow, Szalacha, & Westheimer, 2006;Mueller, James, Abrutyn, & Levin 2015;Patrick, Bell, Huang, Lazarakis, & Edwards, 2010;Robinson, Espelage, & Rivers, 2013;Shields, Whitaker, Glassman, Franks, & Howard, 2011), both during adolescence and carrying over into young adulthood (Russell, Ryan, Toomey, Diaz, & Sanchez;2011;Toomey, Ryan, Diaz, Card, & Russell, 2013). The victimization of LGB youth also contributes toward explaining their higher prevalence of substance abuse (Bontempo & D'Augelli, 2002;Rosario et al.…”

“…The victimization of LGB youth also contributes toward explaining their higher prevalence of substance abuse (Bontempo & D'Augelli, 2002;Rosario et al. 2014) and high-risk sexual behaviors (Bontempo & D'Augelli, 2002;Rosario et al, 2014;Russell et al, 2011). In-school victimization of sexual minority youth is also, perhaps inevitably, associated with poorer educational outcomes such as lower grades, truancy, lower educational aspirations, and school discipline problems (Aragon, Poteat, Espelage, & Koenig, 2014;Kosciw, Palmer, Kull, & Greytak, 2013;Murdock & Bolch, 2005).…”

Developmental Trends in Peer Victimization and Emotional Distress in LGB and Heterosexual Youth

“…No previous studies have explored the links between victimization sexual identity, and emotional distress disparities longitudinally; however, evidence from cross-sectional and retrospective studies is consistent with our theory of partial mediation. 3,5,6,13,[16][17][18]24 …”

“…5 Although many youth experience peer victimization, 9,10 youth who identify as lesbian, gay, or bisexual (LGB) tend to experience higher rates of peer victimization than do their heterosexualidentified peers. 3,5,[11][12][13][14][15] * These heightened levels of peer victimization for LGB youth have been linked to their disproportionate levels of health risks in cross-sectional studies, 3,5,6,16,17 retrospective studies, 18 and meta-analyses. 13 Given evidence on the damaging health effects of victimization and the disproportionate amount of victimization LGB individuals face, it is important to understand (1) developmental trends in victimization rates for LGB youth and (2) whether the higher victimization experienced by LGB youth (relative to heterosexual peers) has adverse consequences for their later emotional distress.…”

Evaluating a gender diversity workshop to promote positive learning environments

“…In a nationally representative study of secondary schools students in Aotearoa/New Zealand (n=8,166), 1.2% of students reported being transgender, and over half of these students (53.5%) were afraid someone at school would hurt or bother them (Clark et al, 2014). The negative impacts of bullying on mental health is serious and long lasting (Russell, Ryan, Toomey, Diaz, & Sanchez, 2011;Yeung Thompson & Leadbeater, 2012). There is evidence suggesting that the high levels of bullying victimization of gender diverse learners is related to increased absenteeism, decreased educational aspirations, and lower academic performance, with almost half of gender diverse learners missing a class in the past month because they felt unsafe or uncomfortable (Greytak, Kosciw & Diaz, 2009).…”