School Bullying Against LGBT Ups HIV Risk

The bullying of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youths at school is strongly linked to later health risks, including STDs and HIV, according to a new study.

The authors examined the association of LGBT school-based victimization and young adult psychosocial health and risk behavior. Data were based on a survey of 245 LGBT individuals ages 21-25, conducted by the Family Acceptance Project.

In the 10-item retrospective survey, respondents were asked to assess school bullying during ages 13-19. Multiple regression was used to test the association of bullying and young adult depression, suicidal ideation, life satisfaction, self-esteem, and social integration, controlled for background characteristics. Logistic regression was used to examine suicide attempts, clinical depression, heavy drinking and substance use, STD diagnoses, and self-reported HIV risk.

While there was no strong association with substance use or abuse, LGBT school victimization was strongly associated with later adult mental health problems and risk for STDs and HIV, reported lead author Stephen T. Russell, distinguished professor at the University of Arizona, and colleagues. Bullied LGBT youth later had lower self-esteem and life satisfaction and were more likely to have social adjustment problems, compared with less victimized peers.

“We now have evidence of the lasting personal and social cost of failing to make our schools safe for all students,” said Russell. “Prior studies have shown that school victimization of LGBT adolescents affects their health and mental health. In our study, we see the effects of school victimization up to a decade later or more. It is clear that there are public health costs to LGBT-based bullying over the long term.”

“The Family Acceptance Project’s growing body of research is building a solid foundation to develop preventive interventions to deal with the harmful effects of anti-LGBT environments on young people in their families, schools, and communities,” said Ann P. Haas, director of prevention projects for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

The full study, “Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Adolescent School Victimization: Implications for Young Adult Health and Adjustment,” was published in Journal of School Health (2011;81(5):223-230).

The Friends of AIDS Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.


TOGETHER WE REMAIN STRONG!