title: Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender adolescent school victimization: implications for young adult health and adjustment.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Adolescent school victimization due to lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT) status is commonplace, and is associated with compromised health and adjustment. Few studies have examined the long-term implications of LGBT school victimization for young adult adjustment. We examine the association between reports of LGBT school victimization and young adult psychosocial health and risk behavior.
  
  
  METHODS
  The young adult survey from the Family Acceptance Project included 245 LGBT young adults between the ages of 21 and 25 years, with an equal proportion of Latino and non-Latino White respondents. A 10-item retrospective scale assessed school victimization due to actual or perceived LGBT identity between the ages of 13 and 19 years. Multiple regression was used to test the association between LGBT school victimization and young adult depression, suicidal ideation, life satisfaction, self-esteem, and social integration, while controlling for background characteristics. Logistic regression was used to examine young adult suicide attempts, clinical levels of depression, heavy drinking and substance use problems, sexually transmitted disease (STD) diagnoses, and self-reported HIV risk.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender-related school victimization is strongly linked to young adult mental health and risk for STDs and HIV; there is no strong association with substance use or abuse. Elevated levels of depression and suicidal ideation among males can be explained by their high rates of LGBT school victimization.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Reducing LGBT-related school victimization will likely result in significant long-term health gains and will reduce health disparities for LGBT people. Reducing the dramatic disparities for LGBT youth should be educational and public health priorities.
authors.affiliation: Fitch Nesbitt Endowed Chair, (strussell@arizona.edu), Family Studies and Human Development, University of Arizona, 650 North Park Ave., PO Box 210078, Tucson, AZ 85721-0078, USA.
authors.forename: Stephen T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Russell
authors.forename: Caitlin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.forename: Russell B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Toomey
authors.forename: Rafael M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Diaz
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sanchez
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D000328:Adult; D058445:Bullying / Q000523:psychology*; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000523:psychology; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000523:psychology; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012574:Schools; D019529:Sexuality / Q000523:psychology*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders; D059020:Suicidal Ideation; D014190:Transvestism / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult