Psychological Correlates of Victimization among Urban LGBTQ and Allied Youth

• In Event: Correlates of LGBTQ Populations’ Offending and Victimization

Abstract

Previous work has suggested that among self-identified lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning (LGBTQ) youth, harassment and other forms of victimization related to sexual orientation and/or gender identity are associated with a host of adverse psychological consequences, including depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts or behaviors. Additionally, certain features of urban inner-city environments, such as an increased potential for violence and victimization, may also contribute to psychological difficulties among youth in these communities. Building upon extant literature, the current study investigates the psychological correlates of social climate and victimization experiences in a racially diverse sample of urban LGBTQ-identified and heterosexual allied youth (N = 220, 76% of respondents self-identified as LGBTQ), populations that have received limited scholarly attention. Respondents were anonymously surveyed about school and neighborhood climates; experiences of verbal, physical, and sexual victimization in school and neighborhood contexts; as well as about mental health indicators (e.g., feeling sad or hopeless, self harm, and suicidal thoughts or actions). Patterns of mental health indicators across different domains of victimization as well as implications for future research on LGBTQ and allied youth in urban communities will be presented.

Authors

• Danielle M. Shields, Rutgers University

• Vanessa R. Panfil, Rutgers University

• Jody Miller, Rutgers University