Modifiable Risk and Protective Factors to Bullying Victimization and Mental Health and Academic Problems Among a Community-Based Sample of Sexual Minority Youths

Introduction: Sexual minority youths (SMY) experience higher rates of bullying victimization and related mental health and academic problems compared to their heterosexual counterparts. The general adolescent bullying literature has identified modifiable risk and protective factors (MRPF) to bullying victimization that remain largely unexplored with SMY. This presentation will address the following research questions: 1) What are the associations between the frequencies of total and four types (verbal, relational, electronic and physical) of bullying victimization and mental health and academic problems? and 2) To what extent do MRPF moderate the association between total bullying victimization and mental health and academic problems?

Methods: This study utilized a cross-sectional, quantitative design. Structured, face-to-face interviews were conducted with a convenience sample of 125 SMY. The participants were recruited from two community-based organizations located in the Midwest. Eligibility requirements were 15-19 years old, non-heterosexual self-identification and not currently living in foster care. Several preexisting measures were used: Swearer Bullying Survey, Brief Symptom Inventory, Child and Adolescent Social Support Scale, and Thoughts About School.

Results: Higher frequencies of bullying victimization (total and type) were significantly associated with (a) higher levels of psychological distress, anxiety, and depression, (b) higher odds of having seriously considered suicide, attempted suicide, and experienced disciplinary actions, and (c) lower grade performance. Physical bullying victimization had the strongest associations with mental health and academic problems, while electronic bullying victimization had the weakest associations. Furthermore, SMY who reported more classmate support experienced less of a decline in their grades as the frequency of total bullying victimization increased compared to those with less classmate support. Last, high levels of parent support had a protective effect on psychological distress, but only at a low frequency of total bullying victimization.

Conclusions: The findings contribute to the prevention literature by identifying previously unexplored MRPF that may be used to inform multi-level, anti-bullying interventions. Anti-bullying interventions need to address the mental healthcare needs of bullied SMY, while also implementing peer mentor programs to increase friend and classmate support to reduce future victimization.