Prospective associations among relationship abuse, sexual harassment and bullying in a community sample of sexual minority and exclusively heterosexual youth

Factors affecting the risk of gender-based violence among 2SLGBTQIA+ adolescents and youth: a scoping review of climate change-related vulnerabilities

Gender-based violence (GBV) is a pervasive and growing issue that affects diverse populations worldwide. This study aimed to synthesize the factors affecting the risk of GBV among 2SLGBTQIA+ adolescents and youth. A scoping review was conducted using international databases (Web of Science, Scopus, Proquest, PubMed, Embase, EBSCOhost) since 2009. The studies were independently appraised by two reviewers guided by the PRISMA approach. Ninety-nine articles focusing on the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, GBV, and adolescents or youth were included for the review. The factors affecting the risk of GBV among 2SLGBTQIA+ adolescents and youth were categorized into (1) Wellbeing and mental health; (2) Disparities compared to cisgender youth; (3) Perpetration and victimization; (4) Different types of violence; and (5) Differences among 2SLGBTQIA+ subgroups. The studies further showed relevance to climate-related stressors such as displacement and resource scarcity, and how those can further amplify the vulnerabilities of 2SLGBTQIA+ youth to GBV. The findings revealed the necessity for multi-level strategies that account for the compounded risks faced by 2SLGBTQIA+ adolescents and youth, including those introduced by environmental crises. These five factors related to GBV among 2SLGBTQIA+ adolescents and youth should be considered by social work professionals when working with at-risk populations. Due to limited robust evidence (from countries outside the US) and the diverse contexts of the selected studies, future research is needed to minimize GBV among 2SLGBTQIA+ adolescents and youth, especially as climate change introduces new layers of vulnerability.

Systematic review registration

10.37766/inplasy2024.4.0008.

Longitudinal association between adolescent sexual identity and sleep quality: The mediating roles of peer victimization and perceived social support

OBJECTIVE

Despite growing evidence of disparities in sleep quality between sexual minoritized and heterosexual youth, the reasons for these disparities are not well understood. LGBQ+ adolescents often experience challenging peer relationships, which could negatively impact their sleep quality. The current study examined the prospective relationship between sexual minority status and sleep quality over 12months and evaluated whether peer victimization and social support at 6months mediated this relationship among adolescents.

METHODS

This study involved a secondary analysis of data from a community sample of 800 adolescents (57.5% female; Mage=14.42years, SD=0.83). Data were collected using web-based surveys over 12months with three time-points: baseline, 6-, and 12-month.

RESULTS

Approximately 19.4% of adolescents self-identified as LGBQ+. Compared to heterosexual adolescents, LGBQ+ adolescents reported poorer global sleep quality, lower perceived social support, greater peer victimization, childhood victimization, and were more likely to be female (all ps < .001). In a longitudinal, parallel mediation analysis adjusting for baseline age, gender, global sleep quality, and childhood victimization, LGBQ+ adolescents reported higher rates of peer victimization (b=0.262 [0.049], p < .001) and less social support (b=-0.385 [0.146], p = .008) at 6months compared with heterosexual peers, predicting poor global sleep quality (b=0.495 [0.191], p = .010 for peer victimization and b=-0.161 [0.068], p = .018 for social support) at 12months.

CONCLUSION

These findings highlight that sexual minority adolescents face increased risks of peer victimization and reduced social support from peers, which contribute to poorer sleep quality. The findings may guide the development of adolescent sleep interventions that also improve social health and relationships.

Sexual Victimization in Adolescence: Pathways of Risk from Sexual Harassment via Risky Alcohol Use and Delinquency Among U.S. Adolescents

Sexual harassment is a common, yet understudied form of peer victimization experienced by adolescents during a critical period in the development of sexual identity. Adverse sexual experiences early in life (e.g., child sexual abuse) can increase risk of future sexual assault victimization; however, it is unclear as to whether sexual harassment victimization is also a risk factor for sexual assault. We examined the prospective association between peer sexual harassment and experiencing sexual victimization in the following year among a community sample of 13-15-year-old adolescents (N = 800, 57% female) from the northeastern USA. We also examined whether risky alcohol use and delinquency mediated the association between sexual harassment and sexual assault victimization, as well as whether the paths differed by gender. Results indicated that sexual harassment victimization prospectively predicted later sexual victimization for both girls and boys. Using a parallel mediation path model, we determined that for girls, sexual harassment victimization predicted both risky alcohol use and delinquency, but only risky alcohol use was predictive of sexual victimization. For boys, sexual harassment victimization predicted delinquency but not risky alcohol use. Risky alcohol use was not associated with sexual victimization for boys. Findings indicate that sexual harassment victimization increases risk of later sexual victimization in adolescence, but the pathways differ by gender.

Middle School Psychological Distress and Sexual Harassment Victimization as Predictors of Dating Violence Involvement

Adolescent sexual harassment victimization is increasingly recognized as a strong risk factor for dating violence victimization and perpetration. Research on this association has focused on older adolescents and on sexual harassment at a single time point rather than chronic exposure. Furthermore, potential mechanisms, such as psychological distress, are not well understood. The goals of this study were to identify whether sexual harassment victimization and psychological distress were reciprocally related, whether chronic psychological distress and sexual harassment victimization in early adolescence were associated with higher levels of dating violence involvement measured in mid-adolescence, and whether these relationships differed between boys and girls. We used longitudinal data from 4,718 US middle school students to fit regression models for the associations between sexual harassment victimization and psychological distress. We then used data from a subset of 1,279 students followed up in high school to fit marginal structural models for sixth- to eighth-grade psychological distress and sexual harassment victimization as predictors of dating violence involvement measured in ninth grade. We found that (1) sexual harassment victimization was positively, concurrently associated with psychological distress, with a stronger association among girls than boys; (2) psychological distress was positively, prospectively associated with sexual harassment victimization among girls but not boys; (3) chronic sixth- to eighth-grade psychological distress was not significantly associated with dating violence victimization or perpetration measured in ninth grade; and (4) chronic sixth- to eighth-grade sexual harassment victimization was associated with significantly higher levels of dating violence victimization and perpetration measured in ninth grade. The results support a reciprocal relationship between distress and sexual harassment victimization for early adolescent girls, and they call for further attention to gender differences in the content and impact of sexual harassment. Furthermore, the findings indicate that preventing sexual harassment in early adolescence may be critical in reducing dating violence.

Adolescent Relationship Abuse, Gender Equitable Attitudes, Condom and Contraception Use Self-Efficacy Among Adolescent Girls

Introduction: Experiencing adolescent relationship abuse (ARA) negatively impacts sexual health and influences risk behaviors of adolescent girls. ARA may be associated with more inequitable gender attitudes among girls, a potentially modifiable factor in violence prevention. This study examines the association among gender equitable attitudes, experiences of ARA, and sexual behaviors among girls participating in Sisterhood 2.0, a community-based violence prevention program implemented in low resource neighborhoods. Methods: Data were from baseline surveys collected for Sisterhood 2.0 implemented in Pittsburgh, PA. Participant demographics, gender equitable attitudes, self-efficacy to use condoms with partners, and self-efficacy to select appropriate contraception were assessed. A latent class analysis (LCA) estimated probability of responses to nine indicators, including sexual behavior self-efficacy and violence. Multigroup LCA by grade (9-12) was also estimated and analyses were performed with SAS V9.4. Results: Female-identified adolescents ages 13-19 (n = 246) were primarily Black (75%) and evenly distributed across grade in school. Sixty-five percent reported emotional relationship abuse and 31% reported physical abuse within the previous nine months. A three-class solution was best fitting for the LCA. Experiences of violence were related to less equitable gender attitudes, being sexually active, and lower condom and contraception self-efficacy. Younger participants who were sexual minorities with less educated heads of household had more experiences with ARA and less equitable gender attitudes. Discussion: Gender equitable attitudes were lower in adolescent girls with greater experiences of ARA and worse condom and contraception self-efficacy. Integrating discussions about healthy sexual relationships and gender equity may be salient factors in violence prevention.

Co-occurrence of sibling and peer bullying victimization and depression and anxiety among Chinese adolescents: The role of sexual orientation

BACKGROUND

Bullying victimization is a robust predictor of mental distress among lesbian/gay, bisexual, and questioning (LGBQ) adolescents. However, few research accounted bullying victimization within the context of both sibling and peer relationships.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the effect of sibling and peer bullying victimization on depression and anxiety between heterosexual adolescents and LGBQ adolescents.

METHOD

This was a cross-sectional study with a random sample of 3062 Chinese senior high school students (56.0% female) aged 14 to 18. Related information was collected through a self-reported questionnaire. The associations were examined via a set of logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

Of the participants, 12.5% were victims of sibling bullying only, 10.1% reported peer victimization only, and 4.7% were involved in both sibling and peer victimization. Compared to heterosexuals, LGBQ adolescents had increased risks of sibling victimization only, peer victimization only, and both sibling and peer victimization. The prevalence of major depression and generalized anxiety disorder were 24.9% and 18.7% respectively. Bullying victimization and sexual orientation were independently associated with depression and anxiety. Furthermore, the stratified analysis indicated that sibling victimization only was significantly associated with depression and anxiety for heterosexual adolescents, while the associations were not significant for LGBQ adolescents.

CONCLUSIONS

Sexual orientation and bullying victimization are predictive factors of depression and anxiety. In particular, bullying victimization shows the different effects on depression and anxiety between heterosexual and LGBQ adolescents. Anti-bullying intervention could take distinct strategies based on different sexual orientation to reduce risks of adolescents' mental health problems.

Risk and Protective Factors for Adolescent Relationship Abuse across Different Sexual and Gender Identities

Little is known about the characteristics and context of adolescent relationship abuse victimization across youth of different sexual and gender minority identities. This study sought to examine this in a national sample of 14-15-year-old youth. The sample comprised 3296 youth who reported having been in a relationship, of which 36% (n = 1197) were exclusively cisgender heterosexual; 41% (n = 1, 349) cisgender sexual minority; and 23% (n = 750) gender minority, the majority of whom were also sexual minority. More than half of all youth who had been in a relationship, dated or hooked up with someone had experienced some form of adolescent relationship abuse victimization. Gender minority youth, in particular transgender boys and non-binary youth assigned female at birth, were more likely to be victims of multiple types of adolescent relationship abuse compared to cisgender youth. Perpetrator gender varied for sexual and gender minorities and was more homogenous for cisgender heterosexual youth. Several factors were associated with adolescent relationship abuse for all youth, although alcohol use, and parental trust and communication emerged as particularly important for sexual and gender minority youth. Overall, findings address multiple gaps in the literature and contribute to the understanding of adolescent relationship abuse across different sexual and gender identities.