Poster #190 - Gender Minorities and Racial Minorities Report Greater Bullying Victimization During a Middle School Pregnancy Prevention Program

• In Event: 1-169 - Poster Session 04
  In Poster Session: PS 04 Section - Sex, Gender

Integrative Statement

Despite declining trends of teen pregnancy across the nation, disparities persist. Compared to the national average, teen pregnancy rates are higher in rural communities (Stewart Ng, A., Kaye, K., & National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, 2013; Thompson et al., 2018); among lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth (2 to 7 times the rate of their heterosexual peers; Saewyc, Poon, Homma, & Skay, 2008); and among racial/ethnic minorities (Hamilton & Ventura, 2012). This suggests that there is still an important need for effective pregnancy prevention. Nation et al. (2003) report that prevention programs that are effective provide the opportunity for positive relationship building among peers.
This study evaluates youth perceptions of bullying victimization during an evidence-based pregnancy prevention program delivered in their middle schools. Differences in perceptions of bullying are evaluated by youth’s endorsement of minority status, specifically gender minorities (e.g., transgender or non-binary youth) as well as racial minorities.
The sample for this investigation includes 3,163 middle school students from a rural county in the Southeastern U.S., with an average age of 12.7 (SD=1.14). Students reported perceptions of bullying victimization during the course of the pregnancy prevention program. This included being personally victimized, perceiving victimization of ethnic/racial minorities, and perceiving victimization of LGBTQ youth. Youth self-reported their race with 47% of the sample identifying as a minority (e.g., American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian, Black, Pacific Islander/Native Hawaiian). Gender was assessed by asking students to select either male or female. Upon review of the data, a number of write-in responses were noted (e.g. selected both genders, this does not apply), as well as inconsistent reporting of gender across both times of assessment (n = 38; 1.2% of youth). These youth were coded as gender minorities compared to their peers who consistently identified as either male or female.
Compared to White peers, youth who identified as a racial minority reported significantly higher bullying of individuals who were of a racial or ethnic minority during the pregnancy prevention program, χ2 (2, N = 2122) =15.91, p < .001; significantly higher bullying of LGBTQ youth within the program, χ2 (2, N = 2138) =8.33, p = .016; and significantly higher reports of being bullied themselves within the program, χ2 (2, N = 2154) =14.053, p = 001 (See Figure 1).
Compared to youth who consistently identified as either male or female, youth who identify as a gender minority reported significantly higher bullying of LGBTQ youth within the context of the prevention program, χ2 (1, N = 2131) =11.027, p = .003; significantly higher bullying of racial/ethnic minorities within the program, χ2 (1, N = 2115) =8.231 p = .007; and significantly higher reports of being bullied themselves, χ2 (1, N = 2147) =4.939, p = .036 (See Figure 2).
This study suggests that youth who are members of a minority group could be more sensitive to the exclusion or bullying of others for the same reasons. In addition, this study adds to the limited research disparities by gender identity in rural communities.

Authors

• Emily M Davison, University of Florida
  Presenting Author

• Tara Mercurio, University of Florida
  Non-Presenting Author

• Sarah D. Lynne, University of Florida
  Non-Presenting Author

• Allison S. Metz, University of Florida
  Non-Presenting Author

• Julia A. Graber, University of Florida
  Non-Presenting Author