Bullying Victimization and Mental Health Among LGBTQ+ youth during COVID-19

Abstract

Bullying is a widespread public health issue that disproportionately impacts LGBTQ+ youth and is linked to a host of adverse outcomes. Although LGBTQ+ youth are more likely to be bullied and experience poorer mental health outcomes than heterosexual youth, few studies have examined these associations using population-based samples. Moreover, no published study has included an investigation of these associations during the COVID-19 pandemic. To address this knowledge gap, the links between bullying victimization and mental health among LGBTQ+ and heterosexual youth were examined in a population-based sample of 2231 Canadian students (50.2% boys, 45.2% girls, 4.6% gender diverse) in Grades 7 to 12 (ages 12-19). Results indicated that bullying victimization prevalence rates were higher among LGBTQ+ middle (Grades 7-8) and high school students (Grades 9-12) than among heterosexual students during the pandemic. LGBTQ+ high school students were at particular risk for being bullied during the pandemic compared to their heterosexual classmates. Bullied LGBTQ+ high school students also reported more mental health problems during the pandemic compared to heterosexual students who were bullied. These associations also varied by gender. Gender diverse students in both middle and high school experienced the highest rates of bullying victimization and reported more mental health problems because they were bullied compared to cisgender girls and boys. Girls also reported more mental health problems because they were bullied than boys. These findings are consistent with existing evidence which indicates that LGBTQ+ and gender diverse students are at elevated risk for being bullied at school and are more likely to experience mental health problems in relation to being bullied. Findings from my thesis highlight the urgent need for schools to invest in LGBTQ+ and gender diverse-specific anti-bullying intervention and prevention initiatives to buffer against adverse mental health outcomes. Implementing anti-bullying programs in schools will help mitigate risk and promote a safe and inclusive social learning environment for gender and sexual minority youth during and following the pandemic.