title: Social Ecological Correlates of Polyvictimization among a National Sample of Transgender, Genderqueer, and Cisgender Sexual Minority Adolescents.
abstract: Polyvictimization is a common experience for youth in the United States, with 20% nationally experiencing five or more different forms of victimization in the last year. Utilizing a large, national convenience sample of sexual and gender minority adolescents (N = 1177, 14-19 years old), the current study aimed to (a) generate the first estimates of last year polyvictimization (including nine victimization subtypes) for transgender, genderqueer, and cisgender (i.e., assigned birth sex aligns with gender identity) sexual minority adolescents and (b) identify social ecological correlates of last year polyvictimization. The study utilized an online survey advertised through Facebook and community organizations across the United States. Approximately, 40% of participants experienced ten or more different forms of victimization in the last year and were classified as polyvictims. A significantly higher percentage of transgender female (63.4%), transgender male (48.9%), genderqueer assigned male at birth (71.5%) and genderqueer assigned female at birth (49.5%) were polyvictimized in comparison to cisgender sexual minority males (33.0%). Polyvictimization rates for cisgender sexual minority females (35.1%) were not significantly different from male counterparts (33.0%). Several significant risk factors for polyvictimization were identified: genderqueer identity for participants assigned male at birth and higher-levels of posttraumatic stress, family-level microaggressions, and peer rejection. The manuscript concludes with recommendations for future research including the exploration of factors (e.g., lack of community support, gender-role policing) associated with higher polyvictimization rates for genderqueer adolescents. Additionally, professionals (e.g., foster care, homeless shelters, schools) require new tools to assess for polyvictimization among sexual and gender minority adolescents.
authors.affiliation: School of Social Welfare, University of California, 120 Haviland Hall, #7400, Berkeley, CA, 94720-7400, USA. Electronic address: sterzing@berkeley.edu.
authors.forename: Paul R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Sterzing
authors.affiliation: School of Social Welfare, University of California, 120 Haviland Hall, #7400, Berkeley, CA, 94720-7400, USA.
authors.forename: G Allen
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Ratliff
authors.affiliation: School of Social Welfare, University of California, 120 Haviland Hall, #7400, Berkeley, CA, 94720-7400, USA.
authors.forename: Rachel E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Gartner
authors.affiliation: School of Social Welfare, University of California, 120 Haviland Hall, #7400, Berkeley, CA, 94720-7400, USA.
authors.forename: Briana L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: McGeough
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, University of California, 2199 Addison St., #7360, Berkeley, CA, 94720-7360, USA.
authors.forename: Kelly C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Johnson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology; D058445:Bullying / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018452:Homosexuality, Female / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008913:Minority Groups / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010379:Peer Group; D012307:Risk Factors; D012574:Schools; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D063106:Transgender Persons / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014189:Transsexualism / Q000523:psychology*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: gender minority; mental health; microaggressions; peer rejection; polyvictimization; sexual minority