Sexual Minority Youth Victimization and Social Support: The Intersection of Sexuality, Gender, Race, and Victimization

Abstract

In comparison to heterosexual youth, sexual minority youth are more likely to experience victimization. Multiple studies have connected anti-gay prejudice and anti-gay victimization to negative outcomes. Research shows that social support may protect sexual minorities from the harmful effects of anti-gay victimization. However, rates of victimization and the negative outcomes linked to sexual identity within the sexual minority community have been relatively unexplored. Using data from three years of statewide data from heterosexual and sexual minority adolescents in grades 9-12, this study examines victimization, substance use, suicidality, and access to social support by sexuality. Results indicate that sexual minority youth are at increased risk for victimization, substance use, suicidality, and social isolation compared to their heterosexual counterparts. Results also indicate that there is very little bivariate difference within the sexual minority community. Multivariate results indicate differences among sexual minorities' experiences with victimization and substance use.

Alcohol and cocaine use among Latino and African American MSM in 6 US cities

“…These findings highlight that many minority MSM populations may experience financial hardship which may influence engagement in HIV risk behaviors, including substance use and sexual risk taking. For example, Marshall et al found that consistent hazardous drinking among MSM veterans was associated with financial insecurity (Giwa & Greensmith, 2012). While our analysis did not specifically examine financial insecurity and HIV related risk, our findings may have implications for HIV transmission.…”

Longitudinal Associations among Discordant Sexual Orientation Dimensions and Hazardous Drinking in a Cohort of Sexual Minority Women

“…The current findings are generally consistent with those from national school-based studies that show similar patterns of alcohol use across various subgroups of racial-ethnic minority sexual minority youth (Talley et al 2014; cf. Button, O’Connell, and Gealt 2012). Previous work (McCabe et al 2010; McLaughlin, Hatzenbuehler, and Keyes 2010; Rosario et al 2014) has also found generally equivalent associations between sexual minority–specific stressors and recent alcohol use across racial-ethnic groups.…”

Youth, violence and non-injection drug use: nexus of vulnerabilities among lesbian and bisexual sex workers

“…Lesbian and bisexual youth and adults have been found to experience higher rates of physical and sexual violence than heterosexual girls and women (Button, O'Connell, & Gealt, 2012; Coker, Austin, & Schuster, 2010; Saewyc et al, 2006). Further, certain lesbian and bisexual populations report higher rates of substance use (Frederick, Ross, Bruno, & Erickson, 2011; Herrick, Matthews, & Garofalo, 2010; Hughes, Szalacha, & McNair, 2010; Marshal et al, 2012).…”