School Indicators of Violence Experienced and Feeling Unsafe of Dutch LGB Versus Non-LGB Secondary Students and Staff, 2006-2010

Trends in Bullying Victimization and Social Unsafety for Sexually and Gender Diverse Students

Research has documented trends in bullying victimization for sexually diverse adolescents in the US, but trends regarding school social unsafety are understudied and there is a dearth of research examining these trends for gender diverse adolescents. This study aimed to identify disparities in bullying victimization and feelings of social unsafety in schools for sexually and gender diverse adolescents. Data stem from the 2014 (N = 15,800; M age = 14.17, SD = 1.50), 2016 (N = 22,310; M age = 14.17, SD = 1.49), and 2018 (N = 10,493; M age = 14.02, SD = 1.52) survey cycles of the Social Safety Monitor, a Dutch cross-sectional school-based study. Findings indicate that sexual orientation disparities remained relatively small, but stable over time, while gender diverse adolescents remained more likely to be victimized and feel unsafe in school, with larger disparities overall. Monitoring these trends is highly relevant, especially considering recent negative developments regarding societal acceptance of sexual and gender diversity.

LGB prevalence in schools is associated with unhealthy weight-control behaviors in lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth: a multilevel analysis

Background

Previous studies have found that a school climate of more heteronormativity is associated with adverse effects on the mental health of LGB students. Accordingly, our aim was to assess the association between lower LGB prevalence in schools and unhealthy weight-control behaviors among LGB youth.

Methods

A cross-sectional, multilevel study based in public high schools in the city of Olinda, Northeast Brazil. A multilevel logistic regression was performed, including 2500 adolescents enrolled in 27 schools. The contextual variable was the prevalence of LGB youth in each school (as a proxy for heteronormativity in schools), while the outcome was unhealthy weight-control behaviors (fasting, purging, and taking diet pills). We controlled for socioeconomic characteristics (age, sex, receiving a family allowance), obesity, and self-reported happiness.

Results

Lower LGB prevalence in schools was associated with higher odds of engaging in unhealthy weight-control behaviors (OR: 1.5, 95%CI: 1.0, 2.2) among all youth, regardless of sexual orientation. No cross-level interactions between school context and individual characteristics were statistically significant.

Conclusion

Lower LGB prevalence in schools was associated with a higher risk of unhealthy weight-control behaviors in youth regardless of sexual orientation, which may reflect either the contextual influence of school climate, or may be due to residual confounding.

Violence Experiences in Childhood and Adolescence Among Gay Men and Transgender Women Living in Perú: A Qualitative Exploration

The overall goal of this study was to qualitatively explore the different types of violence experienced by gay men (GM) and transgender women (TW) living in Peru during childhood and adolescence, as well as their potential consequences and sources of protection. Participants were selected using purposive sampling. Recruitment took place in a community-based organization in Lima, Peru. In all, 32 GM and 23 TW participated in a total of four Focus Group Discussions (FGD) and 25 in-depth interviews (IDI). Qualitative data collection was conducted between July and October 2016. Four FGD took place with GM (n = 21) and one with TW (n = 9). In addition, 11 IDI with GM and 14 with TW were conducted. Data were analyzed using descriptive inductive analysis. Three main types of violence were experienced in childhood and adolescence: (a) violence occurring in the home or otherwise perpetrated by family members, (b) school-based violence, and (c) sexual violence. Both GM and TW experience violence within and outside school and home. School systems should make teachers and parents aware of the impact of homophobic and transphobic bullying and violence. Certain modifications in schools, such as having all-gender bathrooms and promoting activities that are not grounded in gender roles, could be very effective at reducing homophobic and transphobic violence. Schools should also address sexual violence more actively, among both male and female students. Parents' attitudes toward homosexuality and gender diversity need to be addressed by future interventions.