Predictors of sexual victimisation and suicidal ideation among transgender and gender-nonconforming adolescents

Publication Date

1-1-2021

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Psychology and Sexuality

Volume

12

Issue

1-2

DOI

10.1080/19419899.2019.1690034

First Page

79

Last Page

95

Abstract

To better understand the well-being of transgender and gender-nonconforming (TGNC) adolescents, this study examined the relations among bias-based peer victimisation, sexual harassment, parental support, school belonging, sexual violence, and suicidal ideation in a sample of a total of 16,292 high school students from the U.S (TGNC n= 610) Midwest. Students completed self-report measures: 22% of TGNC adolescents reported being forced to take part in sexual activity, and 33% reported being sexually harassed. Tests of the individual parameters revealed four variables that differentiated between those who reported sexual victimisation and those who did not. Results indicated that sexual harassment victimisation, bias-based peer victimisation, problematic drug use, and female sex assigned at birth predicted sexual victimisation. Suicidal ideation was predicted by sexual victimisation, sexual harassment victimisation, bias-based peer victimisation, and problematic drug use. Greater parental support and school belonging were associated with less suicidal ideation. Practitioners, teachers, and school administrators should be sure to intervene in instances of transphobic victimisation and sexual harassment that occur in their classrooms and schools in order to address adverse outcomes for TGNC adolescents.

Keywords

bullying, LGBT, parental support, school belonging, substance use, Suicidal ideation

Department

Child and Adolescent Development

Link to Full Text

Share

COinS